James Stratton
Director
Lot 2
A fine late 19th century French champleve enamel decorated, grande sonnerie carriage clock with alarm Retailed by Cesare Roccheggiani, Rome
2 December 2025, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£1,500 - £2,500
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Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
A fine late 19th century French champleve enamel decorated, grande sonnerie carriage clock with alarm
Retailed by Cesare Roccheggiani, Rome
The case surmounted by a Greek key handle decorated in champlevé enamel over a glazed observation window and repeat button framed by further decorative enamel and a moulded top, supported by four Corinthian-topped enamel columns between bevelled glass observation windows, all above a moulded base further raised on an enamel-decorated plinth sitting on four gilded block feet. The 2.75 inch enamel dial with black Roman numerals set within individually painted cartouches, the centre with an intricately painted flower bud and signed in the centre C. Rocchegiani, Roma, all framed by a finely engraved and champlevé enamel-filled mask engraved with acanthus leaves and floral decoration, with a pair of dragons to the lower section framing a similarly decorated Arabic alarm-setting dial, all with blued steel hands. The grande sonnerie movement with a silvered English-style lever platform escapement, powered by a pair of going barrels and striking the hours and the quarters on a pair of blued steel gongs mounted to the backplate. The alarm set and wound from the back, working on the same gongs. Currently ticking and striking. 20.5cms (8ins) high.
The case surmounted by a Greek key handle decorated in champlevé enamel over a glazed observation window and repeat button framed by further decorative enamel and a moulded top, supported by four Corinthian-topped enamel columns between bevelled glass observation windows, all above a moulded base further raised on an enamel-decorated plinth sitting on four gilded block feet. The 2.75 inch enamel dial with black Roman numerals set within individually painted cartouches, the centre with an intricately painted flower bud and signed in the centre C. Rocchegiani, Roma, all framed by a finely engraved and champlevé enamel-filled mask engraved with acanthus leaves and floral decoration, with a pair of dragons to the lower section framing a similarly decorated Arabic alarm-setting dial, all with blued steel hands. The grande sonnerie movement with a silvered English-style lever platform escapement, powered by a pair of going barrels and striking the hours and the quarters on a pair of blued steel gongs mounted to the backplate. The alarm set and wound from the back, working on the same gongs. Currently ticking and striking. 20.5cms (8ins) high.
Footnotes
Cesare Roccheggiani was the premium micro mosaicist in Rome in the second half of the 19th century. After working for the Vatican Mosaic Workshop, he established his own independent atelier, first at 125 via Babuino and then by 1874 at 14-15 Via Condotti near the Piazza di Spagna, the centre of the Grand Tour sights.
The extensive range of mosaics that his company produced and offered includes mosaic pictures, tables, cabinets, paper weights and gold ornaments.
He also retailed fine art objects, as the carriage clock here offered.