Grande Sonnerie Carriage Clock,

A grande sonnerie carriage clock in a gilded corniche case with alarm, petite sonnerie, silent and repeat functions. With a fine white enamel dial, Roman numerals, and blue steel Breguet hands. There is a secondary dial below for setting the alarm.

The term grande sonnerie refers to the system the clock uses to strike the hours and quarters. The hour last struck is also repeated at each quarter hour. For instance, at 4:15 the clock strikes once on the higher gong to indicate the quarter hour, followed by four strikes on the lower gong to indicate the hour. This is continued with two on the higher gong at half past. Four strikes on the lower gong to indicate the previous hour struck. Three strikes on the higher to indicate the forty five minute mark, plus four stikes for the previous hour. This means that you can tell the time to the nearest fifteen minutes by just listening to the clock.

This clock can also be switched to petite sonnerie, so that the clock will just strike the quarter hours but not the previous hour stuck. Unless the repeat button on top is pressed, when it will strike the hours and the quarters to the last fifteen minutes. It can also be set to silent, so that it will not strike at all unless the repeat is pressed. This makes it a useful travelling clock that can be pressed in the dark to tell the time at night.

This clock was made in France in the 1870’s, but has had an interesting journey since it’s manufacture. It is stamped on the back J.E. Cauldwell & Co Philadelphia, so must have been ordered for the North American market for the retailer J.E. Cauldwell. They were one of the most prestigious jewellers and retailers of decorative objects in 19th century America. They had a vast shop in Philadelphia (see picture) and were still trading well into the 20th Century.

13cm H x 9cm D x 8cm W