An interesting French Louis XVI skeleton table regulator clock Robert Robin Galerie du Louvre 1784
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. There was always the assumption that Robin was allowed to work and live in the ‘Gallerie du Louvre’ from 1785 until his death. In the Gallerie du Louvre the artinans were at the disposal of the King. The elaborate signature and date seem to indicate that this honor was already bestowed on him in 1784. There are many other important clocks of him 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 already make this a special clock. The elaborate signature and date are not only a piece in the historic puzzle of this maker. It is also testament of the pride he must have had being allowed to work and live at the galerie du Louvre.
Robin Galerie du Louvre
The 14.5-cm enamel chapter ring has Roman numerals for the hours and an outer rim callibrated with Arabic numerals for the five minute indication. The inner rim is callibrated for half seconds and is numbered 1-30 for the date indication. Above VI is the signature Robin Galerie du Louvre. The engraved pierced hands are made of gilt brass and the sweep seconds of blued steel. The chapter ring is fitted in beautifully cast and chiseled bezels
Pinwheel escapement
The fully exposed movement is driven by two spring barrels and has a duration of at least twelve days. It has pinwheel escapement in combination with a heavy compensated gridiron pendulum with enamel temperature gauge swinging in between the front plate and dial. The pendulum has cardanic knive-edge suspension and beat adjustment to the crutch. 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 ormolu toupee feet. The front plate of the frame is signed ‘Robin Galerie du Louvre 1784’. The whole is mounted on a rectangular black marble base raised on ormolu claw feet.
