Dating comtoise clocks table
http://www.kunstpedia.com/articles/55/1/Dating-comtoise-clocks-table/Page1.html
Horological Foundation
The Horological Foundation is a non profit organisation.Through its internet sites it aims to provide a meeting and mediation plaza for anyone interested in
Important Antique Horological Objects, Instruments and Barometers.
www.antique-horology.org
By Horological Foundation
Published on 18 March 2008
A form of provincial, weight-driven clock originally made in the
vicinity of Morbier in the Franche*-Comté region of France (Contée in
the old spelling), near the Swiss frontier, from the late 17th century
to the beginning of the 20th. They are sometimes called Morez clocks or
Morbier clocks, from place names in the area.
They represented the first move towards the popularising of clocks in France, and in the 19th century they were to be found far and wide across the country, virtually ousting other local clock making traditions. They were often marked with the name and town of the vendor rather than those of the maker.
They represented the first move towards the popularising of clocks in France, and in the 19th century they were to be found far and wide across the country, virtually ousting other local clock making traditions. They were often marked with the name and town of the vendor rather than those of the maker.
Thanks to: Ton Bollen 'Comtoise clocks', ISBN 90 2284253 3
A form of provincial, weight-driven clock originally made in the vicinity of Morbier in the Franche*-Comté region of France (Contée in the old spelling), near the Swiss frontier, from the late 17th century to the beginning of the 20th. They are sometimes called Morez clocks or Morbier clocks, from place names in the area.
They represented the first move towards the popularising of clocks in France, and in the 19th century they were to be found far and wide across the country, virtually ousting other local clock making traditions. They were often marked with the name and town of the vendor rather than those of the maker.
*Free state, free of fiscal liabilities.
Apart from Morbier, the Jura had several clock-making centres in Morez, Foncine le Bas, Chapelle aux Bois, Belle Fontaine, Fort du Plâne (Plasne) Poligny and St. Ilay. On the Langres Plateau the best-known centres were the city of Langres and the adjacent Neuilly l'Archevèque. In the region of the Haut-Saône, Luxeuil, Lure Yussy and Vesoul have become well known. The village of Pont Farcy (district of Calvados) and St. Nicolas d'Aliermont (district of Seine Maritime) were well-known. M.P. Lansalot, born in the Jura founded a big Comtoise industry, that employed over 300 people in Navarenx (district of Pyrenées-Atlantique). Production of 'mini' Comtoise clocks occured also in Spain.
Comtoise clocks were built on iron-strip frames in the manner of Gothic clocks. 'The clock making industry in the Morbier area had started with the Mayet family of ironworkers, who successfully repaired (actually replaced) the clock at the Capucine convent in St Claude.
In classic form the clocks had inverted verge escapements, later ones having anchor escapements (), and hour and half-hour vertical rack striking.
In common with many country clocks, they also re-struck the hour after a space of two minutes. The pendulum, after ca 1800 swinging between the movement and the dial, beat seconds or longer operated with a cranked crutch. They also had a folding rod.
Comtoise clocks might hang from a bracket, but were originally destinated to have a full long case (), often made from pine, with tapering or violin-shaped sides, frequently painted and grained in country fashion.
Early dials were of pewter or brass with black-filled numerals and a single hand. Later, the hours might be shown on enamel cartouches, and by ca. 1760 dials were completely enamelled or by the late 19th century even of printed paper, and there was sometimes a third hand indicating the date.
A pierced brass pediment surmounted early dials, showing a 'coq' (rooster) with the royal arms, or with motifs suitable to current political enthusiasms. Later pediments frontons employed a wide variety of stamped brass devices, one of the most common incorporating a pair of cornucopias, classical anthemion ornaments, a basket of flowers and a sunburst. In the 19th century a fashion for over-large pendulums and bobs of stamped and painted brass or sheet iron developed.
After the Treaty of Frankfurt in 1871 German clocks were allowed into France without tax, which weakened the trade in the Franche-Comté despite diversification of output. The decline of these traditional clocks was completed by the First World War, after which the industry in the Morez-Morbier-Foncine area was reorganised for more modern productions.
By the end of the 20th century only a few French manufacturers continued to make comtoise clocks (Seramm, Odo, Gaignon). Reproductions were also made in Germany and Hungary.
See >> Dating comtoise clocks table
A form of provincial, weight-driven clock originally made in the vicinity of Morbier in the Franche*-Comté region of France (Contée in the old spelling), near the Swiss frontier, from the late 17th century to the beginning of the 20th. They are sometimes called Morez clocks or Morbier clocks, from place names in the area.
They represented the first move towards the popularising of clocks in France, and in the 19th century they were to be found far and wide across the country, virtually ousting other local clock making traditions. They were often marked with the name and town of the vendor rather than those of the maker.
*Free state, free of fiscal liabilities.
Apart from Morbier, the Jura had several clock-making centres in Morez, Foncine le Bas, Chapelle aux Bois, Belle Fontaine, Fort du Plâne (Plasne) Poligny and St. Ilay. On the Langres Plateau the best-known centres were the city of Langres and the adjacent Neuilly l'Archevèque. In the region of the Haut-Saône, Luxeuil, Lure Yussy and Vesoul have become well known. The village of Pont Farcy (district of Calvados) and St. Nicolas d'Aliermont (district of Seine Maritime) were well-known. M.P. Lansalot, born in the Jura founded a big Comtoise industry, that employed over 300 people in Navarenx (district of Pyrenées-Atlantique). Production of 'mini' Comtoise clocks occured also in Spain.
Comtoise clocks were built on iron-strip frames in the manner of Gothic clocks. 'The clock making industry in the Morbier area had started with the Mayet family of ironworkers, who successfully repaired (actually replaced) the clock at the Capucine convent in St Claude.
In classic form the clocks had inverted verge escapements, later ones having anchor escapements (), and hour and half-hour vertical rack striking.
In common with many country clocks, they also re-struck the hour after a space of two minutes. The pendulum, after ca 1800 swinging between the movement and the dial, beat seconds or longer operated with a cranked crutch. They also had a folding rod.
Comtoise clocks might hang from a bracket, but were originally destinated to have a full long case (), often made from pine, with tapering or violin-shaped sides, frequently painted and grained in country fashion.
Early dials were of pewter or brass with black-filled numerals and a single hand. Later, the hours might be shown on enamel cartouches, and by ca. 1760 dials were completely enamelled or by the late 19th century even of printed paper, and there was sometimes a third hand indicating the date.
A pierced brass pediment surmounted early dials, showing a 'coq' (rooster) with the royal arms, or with motifs suitable to current political enthusiasms. Later pediments frontons employed a wide variety of stamped brass devices, one of the most common incorporating a pair of cornucopias, classical anthemion ornaments, a basket of flowers and a sunburst. In the 19th century a fashion for over-large pendulums and bobs of stamped and painted brass or sheet iron developed.
After the Treaty of Frankfurt in 1871 German clocks were allowed into France without tax, which weakened the trade in the Franche-Comté despite diversification of output. The decline of these traditional clocks was completed by the First World War, after which the industry in the Morez-Morbier-Foncine area was reorganised for more modern productions.
By the end of the 20th century only a few French manufacturers continued to make comtoise clocks (Seramm, Odo, Gaignon). Reproductions were also made in Germany and Hungary.
See >> Dating comtoise clocks table
With permision of the Horological Foundation