Fine & Rare, Empire Amboyna Orrery & Music Box by Zacharie Raingo (1775-1847)

Fine & Rare, Empire Amboyna Orrery & Music Box by Zacharie-Nicholas-Ame-Joseph Raingo (1775-1847)

Circa 1820. M. Raingo, Paris, orrery, two train clock in an Empire style case with ormolu mounts on ambona wood. The earth revolves on its axis daily, the moon circles the earth, and the entire system turns about the sun in one year. The three horizontal dials indicate the zodiac and month divisions, lunar divisions, and divisions of the four years including leap year. The crank is for setting or demonstrating the planetary display which is driven by a four year spring but controlled from the time train. In the base is a music box which is wound separately. This feature is known to exist in only a few other specimens.

Commentary: It is thought that perhaps twenty of his orrery clocks exist. Most known examples, like the present clock are in the form of a gilt mounted, four column rotunda, veneered with mahogany or amboyna. Few rest on a musical base, playing on the hour or at will. A well-known example, now at Windsor Castle was purchased by King George IV in 1824, Other examples can be found in the Spanish Royal Collection at the Palacio Real de Madrid, the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers in Paris, the Musee International de l'Hologerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the Science Museum, London and the Sir John Soane Museum, London.

Marks of (Michel Journe, uncle of F. P. Journe) on the back of the front plate, M. Journe / A Paris / Le III Avril 1975.

Literature: Tardy, French Clocks the World Over, Part II, p.224 (pictured).

Exhibition: National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, Commemorative Exhibition, 1976, Anaheim, California.

Watch Video

Watch Video (2)

Max Ht 67 in. W 20 in.

Provenance: An Important Portuguese Collection.
Jim Cipra, Horological Consultant, Long Beach, California.
The collection of Dr. William Thomas, Naples, Florida.
Condition Report: In running condition.