Antique Swiss ‘Neuchatel’ Quarter-Striking Bracket Clock

A Swiss ‘Neuchatel’ quarter-striking bracket clock , in a waisted salmon pink and floral garland painted case with original matching bracket, by Fredrich Perrenoud and Henriette Huguenin, dated 1796.

The very finely made 8-day twin barrel movement has a verge escapement with silk suspension, pull-quarter repeating on two bells. It has rectangular plates separated by four pinned pillars. The quarter striking train has a countwheel cut for the hours and quarters. The strikework mechanism is mounted on the backplate and ting-tang strikes on two bells via a pair of vertically pivoted hammers. The pull-quarter repeat mechanism is also visible on the backplate and has a similar arrangement of hammers sounding on the same two bells.

The 9 inch circular convex white enamelled Roman numeral dial is signed for Fredrich Perrenoud, Henriette Hugueni(n), 1796 within a concentric date ring, and with a fine blued steel pointer to this inner track. There are Arabic five minutes to the outer track, and Roman hour numerals. There is one very fine hairline crack to the lower edge, barely perceptible.

Lovely pierced and chased gilt brass lattice hands.

The soft salmon pink painted case is in its original condition retaining the original painted decoration, including the inner door, the lower half of which has painted floral swags, visible through the glass. It has a gilt ball finial, a gilt cornice and shaped giltwood door, the sides with recessed arch glazed panels. It rests on a wall bracket to match.

Provenance

Frederic Louis Perrenoud is recorded in Baillie’s Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in Ponts-de-Martel and La Brevine, Switzerland, 1761-1801. Henriette Huguenin however does not appear to be recorded in the usual sources although several members of the Huguenin family are recorded as clockmakers working in the Chaux-de-Fonds and Neuchatel areas of Switzerland during the latter decades of the 18th century.

• Height (overall): 35 inches (89cm)
• Height (clock only): 26½ inches (67cm).

Fully overhauled and guaranteed for 3 years.

Price includes delivery within mainland UK.