A small French Louis XV Boulle inlaid quarter repeating bracket clock, Melot A Paris, circa 1750.

Description

The dial

The 14.5-cm enamel dial has blue Roman numerals and is signed Melot A Paris. The well made foliate pierced and engraved gilt hands are of the fleur-de-lis type.

The movement

The identical signed plated movement has beautiful knopped pillars. It is being driven by a spring barrel and has an eight day duration. It is regulated by a tic-tac escapement in combination with a silk suspended pendulum. The clock has pull quarter repeating on two bells.

The case

The case is a beautiful example of the Louis XV style also called Rococo. The scrolling and natural lines form a wonderful design. The case is throughout veneered with tortoiseshell with engraved brass marquetry inlay. This technique is called Boulle-technique after its inventor Charles-André Boulle. The case is surmounted by a putto on a shell surrounded by four winged dragon mounts. De waisted case has another two playful dragons on the sides. Below the dial is a mount incorporating two putti. The clock is raised on scroll feet and placed on an ogee shaped matching bracket. Both case and bracket are signed Ant. Foullet.