A fine French carriage clock, Moise Bolviller, Paris, numbered…
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A fine French carriage clock, Moise Bolviller, Paris, numbered 11, circa 1840, Eight-day repeating movement with alarm and date, bell striking, the lever platform escapement with helical hairspring, the enamelled Roman numeral dial with sweep seconds hand and subsidiary Arabic numeral date and alarm dials, signed 'Bolviller a Paris', the finely engraved brass gorge case with bail handle and bevelled glazing, with the original black leather carrying case with the remains of an early manuscript label to its underside, 15 cm high (handle lowered), 10 cm wide, 8 cm deep. Other Notes: a Bolviller clock of very similar appearance is described and illustrated in C. Alix and P. Bonnert, carriage clocks - their history and Development (1974), pp 71-73, pp 158-159, pl. VII/3, and dated there to around 1840., the clock Alix and Bonnert described and illustrated was numbered 2 by Bolviller; the backplate of the present clock is engraved '11' (inverted)., the clock was restored by Ken Hose in 2012 and had a major service by Patrick O'Neil in 2016.

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  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • Bevel / Chamfer - In furniture making, a chamfered corner refers to a technique used to create a smooth, angled edge on the corner of a piece of furniture. This is typically done by cutting away a small portion of the corner at an angle, typically 45 degrees, creating a diagonal edge, rather than a sharp 90-degree angle. This technique can be used on various parts of a piece of furniture such as table legs, drawer fronts, or door frames. Chamfering can add visual interest to a piece and can help to soften the overall look of a piece of furniture. It is often used in conjunction with other techniques, such as rounding edges or using contrasting wood species to create a more elegant, sophisticated look. Chamfering is a simple way to add a touch of elegance to a piece of furniture and it is a common technique used by furniture makers.
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
  • Back Plate - On many types of clocks, the movement operates between two plates, usually made of brass, one at the back, and the other at the front, which forms a mount for the dial.

    On English bracket, mantle and table clocks the backplate was often visible through a glass door or panel from the late 17th century, and could be profusely engraved with scrolling decorations, flowers, foliage, birds, and figures. The engraving could also include the maker?s name.

    The amount of engraving reduced and became simpler as the 18th century progressed, and by 1800, had been reduced to a border, often with the maker's name in the centre. By the early 1800s all decoration had ceased, and only the maker's name was added, and by the Victorian era, most bracket, mantle and table clocks had no engraving.
  • Date Aperture - A date aperture is a cut out section in the face of a watch or clock, displaying the day of the month.

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