NO RESERVE Grande Sonnerie Carriage clock by MARGAINE-PARIS - Margaine - Gilt bronze - 19th century

A fine 19th century French grande sonnerie striking and repeating Carriage Clock by one of the best French carriage clock makers: Margaine, Paris. The clock is signed on the movement and numbered with the number 1915, indicating a production year of around 1870. The gilded gorged case of typical form set with a circular Roman and Arabic white enamel dial over an Arabic alarm subsidiary in an engine turned mask. The front of the clock is mint and untouched. The original patina radiates the age of the clock. The signed and numbered movement with bronzed lever platform escapement striking and repeating the hours and quarters on a pair of coiled blued steel gongs, the three-position selection lever mounted to the underside and engraved in English 'Hours and Quarters, Quarters only and Silent'. The going train and the alarm train work excellent and the clock runs excellent on time. The striking and repeating mechanism needs adjustement. All functions work and the sound of the clock is lovely, but the repeating function chimes a different hour/quarter than the time indicates. This needs attention. The white circulair enamel dial is perfect (not one chip) as are the blued steel 'Breguet' moon hands. Clock is signed with the makers initials on the backplate. Higth of the clock with handle up is 17,5cm. Bevelled glass on 4 sides and on top to give exposure to the escapement. All in excellent condition. Not one chip. A carriage clock of this type and in this mint original condition does not often comes to auction. The clock will be packed with most care and shipped insured with track and trace. Important note: Please note that grande sonnerie carriage clocks will need re-adjustment of the striking mechanism after a journey.