Skeleton Clock, Visible Pinwheel Escapement And Knife Suspension.

Skeleton clock with vivible pinwheel escapement for a heavy pendulum, knife suspension. Mounted on a black marble base with a plaque with putti. Minute wheel placed excentric between 1 and 2. Signed on an black enamel cartouche in gold letters: "Destigny à Roüen"

DESTIGNY Pierre Daniel (Tardy)
Born in Sammerviller near Troaan (near Nancy). In 1787, he was app. at the Manufacture Royale fg du Temple in Paris. In 1798, he settled in Rouen where he presented to the Academy, in 1813, a metal compensation that could be used for all types of small balances and, in 1818, a compensation system by the balance spring before being invented by a mechanic from Louviers. He obtained a medal at the Exhibition of 1819. In 1825, he was at the Place de la Cathédrale. He retired at the age of 78 in 1848, and died in 1855 after having published in 1852 a memoir on the operation of watches.