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300 Year old Clock Restored
This 300 year old French, LOUIS XIV style, clock was found in an antique shop in Forney Texas. The Boulle brass and tortiose shell marquitry was in a very bad state of repair and just begging for someone to save it from further deteriorate. See complete story of this restoration.
An article about a 300 year old clock discovered in a warehouse and restored by Fred Tischler.
FRENCH BOULLE MARQUITRY CLOCK BY COQUEREL (1695 - 1701)
OVERVIEW
This French LOUIS XIV style clock was purchased on 7/9/1994 from Clements Antiques in Forney Texas. The clock movement was signed COQUEREL PARIS. Coquerel is listed as a member of the French clock Jure in 1695 and passed away at the age of 51 in 1701. A 30-day time & strike movement with sunburst pendulum bob. Metal dial has enamel porcelain chapters stations and blued steel hands. It appeared that the clock escapement was originally a verge/crown wheel type and later converted to a more superior anchor escapement, which was commonly done to these old movements. Clock Dimensions: 27" H x 13" W x 6" D.
OVERVIEW
This French LOUIS XIV style clock was purchased on 7/9/1994 from Clements Antiques in Forney Texas. The clock movement was signed COQUEREL PARIS. Coquerel is listed as a member of the French clock Jure in 1695 and passed away at the age of 51 in 1701. A 30-day time & strike movement with sunburst pendulum bob. Metal dial has enamel porcelain chapters stations and blued steel hands. It appeared that the clock escapement was originally a verge/crown wheel type and later converted to a more superior anchor escapement, which was commonly done to these old movements. Clock Dimensions: 27" H x 13" W x 6" D.
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CONDITION BEFORE RESTORATION Condition of the clock was in generally good condition for its age. A lot of the tortoise shell and brass inlay Boulle marquitry was missing, raised or loose. All bronze figures and castings were in place except four of eight finials were missing. One finial was made of white metal and the rest brass. In two places on the bonnet, missing tortoiseshell was replaced with plaster and paint. Places were brass inlay was missing it was simply painted a brass color. The wood structure was made of oak boards, and the top areas were the oak was exposed showed aging, slight cracks and most of the original finish gone. The rear wood door had probably been replaced. At one time the clock had a door latch on the right side of the case front; the latch release and latch hardware was missing. The front door bezel appears to be original but there is no latch catch, it looks as if the catch was broken off. The front and two side glasses were in place with no chips or cracks. RESTORATION COMPLETED The wooden case surface and structure was repaired. The faulty installed tortoise shell and brass inlay was removed, cleaned and replaced with original hide glue. Five brass finials were made using an old one as a model, and all fittings and castings were gilded. The dial was disassembled and cleaned; a piece of paper was found under the #2 cartouche stating, in French script, that "this clock was won on a bet". A door latch assembly was made to replace the original missing one and installed. The movement was completely disassembled, cleaned, adjusted and tested and it keeps excellent time. |
