An attractive French Directoire skeleton regulator by Robert Robin, circa 1800.

Description

Robert Robin

Together with Abraham Louis Breguet and Ferdinand Berthoud, Robert Robin is considered being one of the best and important French clockmakers ever. He became master clockmaker in 1767 and opened a workshop in the Rue Faubourg St Honoré. In The later days of the reign of Louis XV he became clockmaker to the King and thereafter the favorite clockmaker of Louis XVI. After the revolution he also worked for the Directoire. In 1784 Robin was allowed to work and live in the ‘Gallerie du Louvre’ until his death. In the Gallerie du Louvre the artinans were at the disposal of the King. Many other important clocks of him are in well known collections. In addition of making very beautiful and important clocks he was alo an innovator in the field of horology. Several times he presented his ideas to the ‘Académie Royale des Sciences’ and had a number of publications in the field. The balanced design, the attractive visible movement and the renown maker make this a special clock. It is a beautiful combination of technique and design.

Sweep seconds

The 14.5-cm enamel chapter ring has Roman numerals for the hours and an outer rim callibrated for the minute indication with Arabic quarter numbering. The inner rim is callibrated for half seconds and numbered 1-30 for the date indication. Arond XII is the signature Robin à Paris. The engraved pierced hands are made of gilt brass. The sweep seconds and date pointer are made of blued steel. The chapter ring is fitted in beautifully cast and chiseled ormolu bezels

Pinwheel escapement

The fully exposed movement is driven by two spring barrels and has a duration of at least fifteen days. It has pinwheel escapement in combination with a heavy compensated gridiron pendulum with enamel temperature gauge inscribed Elementa Su-is Propys Armis Victa. This translates freely into fight the elements with its own weapons which refers to the working of the gridiron pendulum. It has cardanic knive-edge suspension and beat adjustment to the crutch and is swinging in between the front plate and dial. The clock has half hour striking on a bell by means of a countwheel.

Frame

The heavy brass frame is shaped as an inverted Y and is supported by four flat annular ormolu feet. The whole is mounted on a rectangular red marble base with canted corners and a cut-out for the pendulum bob. The whole is raised on six flat annular ormolu feet.