The carriage clock

November 1988

Interior Design

Clocks have always attracted collectors, and carriage clocks are the
most popular of all. They are small, easily transported and highly
ornamental.

The carriage clock originated in France in the 18th century. It probably
derived from the "Pendule d'Officier," the small portable timepieces
that Napoleon's officers carried with them on their extended tours of
Europe. These clocks were so attractive and convenient that they became
the rage in France, and then later in England, America and the continent,

It is not possible to attribute the invention of the carriage clock to
any one person, but shortly after 1800 Abraham-Louis Breguet, an
esteemed watchmaker in Paris, was turning out some complex, finely tuned
and superbly cased movable clocks like the one pictured here. They were
so carefully crafted and precisely engineered that they were rare and
expensive.

By the 1850s, other French horologists like Paul Garnier and Leroy were
creating clocks in this form with eight-day striking movements. Examples
appeared with repeating, alarm and even calendar functions. The
popularity of carriage clocks spread to Britain and the United States
where a wealthy class, created by the Industrial Revolution, demanded
finely finished articles that were practical as well as decorative. By
the end of the century there was a series of standard styles and a
number of specially designed pieces, made for affluent customers or to
be displayed in design exhibitions.

These portable clocks were early and elegant versions of travel clocks.
They were compact in size and included a handle and a protective leather
case. When a gentleman (or a soldier) went on a trip, he could lift the
clock by its convenient handle and take it along. Chances are he would
travel by carriage, and would hang the clock by its handle to keep track
of the time. Hence the namecarriage clock.

At first every carriage clock had a rectangular gilt case, glass panels,
a simple face, a fairly large handle and very little ornamentation. As
time passed and expertise developed, these small timepieces became works
of art from their innermost mechanisms to their sumptuous surfaces. In
size, they ranged from 2-1/2 to 3 in. (miniature) to 5 to 8 in.
(standard) and 12 to 18 in. (giant). The rarest and most valuable are
the miniatures, which are marvels of technology. Some strike on the hour
and half-hour; some strike quarter hours as well. Some rare models show
the day, date and month. And some eved contain perpetual calendars that
self-correct for leap years.

The greatest strides have been made in the style and decoration of the
cases. In addition to the simple rectangle, there are oval clocks,
hexagonal clocks and even clocks with bubble tops. Instead of the glass
panels, which allowed the works to be visible, the cases are decorated
in a myriad of ways. They are often made of gold or silver, or both; the
metal is cast, engraved, chased, filigreed, fluted or beaded. Panels are
made of ivory, porcelain, semi-precious stone like malachite, lapis
lazuli or jade, various forms of enameIing like translucent enamel,
guilloche, cloisonne or champleve or inlaid with mother of pearl,
turquoise or other jewels.

To understand the range of precision and design that have been lavished
on these small clocks, it may be helpful to peruse a new book called A
Century of Fine Carriage Clocks. Joe Fanelli, who compiled the book and,
with his wife Cindy, owns Fanelli Antique Timepieces on Madison Avenue,
New York, has the most comprehensive collection of carriage clocks in
the city, and he plans an even more extensive display for the holidays.
Sometimes an intricate version turns up in an antique jewelry shop or at
an auction; occasionally I see one at Kentshire or Hyde Park or David
Allan downtown or in one of the antique establishments in the D&D
Building. If I need one for a specific function, I start with the Fanellis.

The carriage clock in the photograph is a rare example of the art of A.
L. Breguet. The case is Empire in style, made of bronze dore with fluted
pilasters,glass insets and enamel dial with day-of-month and moon phase.
It runs eight days, strikes the hour and the quarter hour (grande and
petite sonnerie), has an alarm function, a repeat button and a perpetual
calendar. The clock has been designed so that it can be wound through
the back door without opening it. It is a marvel of engineering and
classic beauty.