A rare French renaissance-style mystery timepiece, Planchon, circa 1880

Description

8-day movement, fine gilt bronze and pewter case

8-day spring-driven movement with platform lever escapement signed Planchon Paris, pewter dish-shaped dial with engraved Roman numerals, a tortoise showing time, lovely gilt bronze hexegonal case in renaissance-style, signed Planchon A Paris, raised on lion shaped feet.

The tortoise has a tiny piece of metal in it. A Magnet on top of the movement inside case makes the tortoise point at the right numeral. Reputedly Planchon invented this primciple and made several different designs. This design was never seen by us before and is quite rare.