Cartel Clock- Louis XIV Period - Thuret Paris

A rare and beautiful Louis XIV gilt bronze cartel clock in Boulle marquetry with its original mechanical  movement signed THURET known as clockmaker for Sun King Louis XIV late XVIIth  and recognized among the best clockmakers for his remarquable  timepieces executions.

The clock displays all the  design characteristics of Louis XIV period style, starting with its shape. This one is rounded on the top, straight for the uprights connected by a volute to end with a slight curve at the level of the feet.
The chiseled gilded bronze dial indicates the minutes in arabian indexes as well as dark blue enameled hour markers in roman indexes.
 
Fine original blues steel hands. The escapement has been modified as an anchor typebfitted with  a heavy and ajustable  pendulum keeping  very accurate time.  It rings on demand hours and quarts  on three bells pulling a string.


The whole clock is covered with Boulle marquetry made of tortoiseshell and fine brass inlays with engravings.  The rear door which gives access to the movement features a remarkable marquetry design patterns with figures of "grotesque" inspired from  King designer Berain.. The marquetery is  repeated  both on the interior side and exterior side of the  door so called "partie" and "contre partie".

This unique "double" cut marquetry is seen on the most prestigious timepieces that were displayed by nobilty on pedestrals for admiration. The rich ornulu trim design of this cartel is composed of an antic lamp on top (very specific of the workshops of André Charles BOULLE), crown king pediment, the lower part of the dial is signed THURET, aries hoof feet, folliages,  palms.

References
- a very similar cartel clock signed from Thuret  is documented on book "La Pendule Française du Moyen Âge au XXème siècle " by Pierre Kjellberg - page 42 - figure A - very similar Louis XIV clock design with movement by THURET, in Versailles library
  - Dictionary of French clockmakers-Tardy- Thuret Isaac recorded as Watchmaker of King Louis XIVby end of XVIIth C.