COMTOISE OR MORBIER GRANDFATHER OR LONG CASE CLOCK WITH A HIGHLY HAND CARVED CASE

ITEM # C-351

FROM THE WOODEN PEGGED CONSTRUCTION OF THE CASE, AND THE TYPE OF MOVEMENT, PENDULUM AND WEIGHTS IT WOULD APPEAR THE CLOCK WAS MADE BETWEEN 1800 -1850.

THIS COMTOISE OR MORBIER CLOCK WITH IT'S HAND CARVED OAK CASE IS QUITE UNUSUAL AND RELATIVELY RARE. IT WAS MADE IN FRANCE.

ACCORDING TO THE PERSONS I PURCHASED THE CLOCK FROM, THE CLOCK WAS PURCHASED FROM A HOME IN NORMANDY FRANCE, RIGHT AFTER WORLD WAR II ENDED BY SOME ONE IN THE US MILITARY (PROBABLY AN OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY HAD FREE SHIPPING FOR PERSONAL HOUSE HOLD ITEMS) AND SHIPPED TO THE UNITED STATES. AT SOME POINT IT WAS TAKEN TO COLORADO. I PURCHASED THE CLOCK IN 2004.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE CASE IS HAND CARVED FROM SOLID OAK PANELS IN HIGH RELIEF. THERE IS A SMALL GLASS PANEL IN THE DOOR SET INTO A CARVED HEART. BECAUSE THE PANELS ARE SOLID OAK AND THE CLOCK IS 150 TO OVER 200 YEARS OLD THERE IS WOOD SHRINKAGE WHICH CAUSES CRACKS TO FORM. THE CASE IS SOLID AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY NEW SHRINKAGE. (IF YOU GO TO ANY MUSEUM AND LOOK AT THEIR SOLID OAK CLOCKS AND FURNITURE YOU WILL SEE CRACKS.

THE HARDWARE IS ORIGINAL;

LARGE METAL TWIST HANDLES WITH PEWTER ESCUTSHEONS ON BOTH THE DIAL DOOR AND THE MAIN CASE DOOR.

THE EXTERNAL HINGES ARE VERY LARGE, SILVER IN COLOR, PERHAPS PEWTER?

THE MOVEMENT IS ORIGINAL TO THE CASE.

THE MOVEMENT STRIKES THE HOUR ON A GONG AND IN TWO MINUTES REPEATS THE STRIKE, IN ADDITION, IT STRIKES THE HALF HOUR. THE WEIGHTS AND PENDULUM ARE ORIGINAL. WHY DOES IT DOUBLE STRIKE ON THE HOUR? BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS LIGHT AT NIGHT WAS DIM, AND CAME FROM CANDLES AND OIL LAMPS.

THE PORCELAIN DIAL IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION

IT SHOWS "AUX ARMES DE BRETAGNE A'OUIMPER ARMAND CARON" I WOULD ASSUME THAT ARMAND CARON WAS THE CLOCKMAKER'S NAME BUT CANNOT FIND ANY DEFINITIVE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET.

THE OVERALL HIGHT IS 7 FEET 4 INCHES

THE SALE PRICE IS $2500.00 PLUS CRATING AND SHIPPING OUT OF THE GREATER DENVER AREA

CLOCK CAN BE SEEN IN METRO DENVER AREA BY APPOINTMENT

FOR OUT OF STATE I SUGGEST USING "CRATERS AND FREIGHTERS"