IMPORTANT!!! the present clock and the flambeaux are considered by the

"Italian Fine Arts Commision" and the "Italian Fine Arts Custom Police" NATIONAL HERITAGE,

and therefore CAN NOT LEAVE THE ITALIAN SOIL.

Rare french “vase” clock with its “flambeaux”.

Case: flask-shaped body gilt and white Paris hard porcelain with polychrome flower decorations, surmounted by a fruiting and floral spray and supported by Victory herm figures within leaf-wreaths and on goat’s hoof feet, on a oval base with outset pilasters and feet.

Dial: glazed white enamel with black Roman hour numerals and Arabic minute numerals from fifteen to fifteen with marks dots. Gilt, pierces and engraved hands for the hours and minutes, polished steel for the alarm. Three decentralized winding-holes.

Movement: "fusee and chain" and verge escapement for the time; fixed barrels for the quarter self striking and the alarm; pierce and engraved balance “Cock” visible on the back-plate.

Period and provenance: Circa 1780-’90. Case and gilt bronzes from Paris - France, movement from Geneve - Switzerland, retailed in Turin – Italy.

Signed: “Joseph Gay horologer du Roy à Turin”.

Clock dimentions: H. 59 cm. x W. 26 cm. x D. 18.5 cm.

Flambeaux dimentions: H. 44 cm.

Notes: maybe rented in the “Stupinigi King’s hunting Palace” in Turin (Italy).

The present clock with its matching pair of candelabra is illustrated in A. Gonzalez-Palacios, “Il Tempio del gusto, La Toscana e l’Italia Settentrionale”, Milan, 1986, vol. II, p. 397, fig. 854.

Only three other similar clocks are known: the first made for Marie-Antoniette and now exposed in the “Victoria and Albert Museum”. The second signed François Louis Godon, horologer of the King of Espagne, 1783.The third now exposed in the “Musée Cognac-Jay, Paris”.