Rare French Boulle Clock Louis XIV Period Signed By Thuret In Paris

A rare and beautiful Louis XIV gilt bronze mantel clock in Boulle marquetry with its original movement signed THURET known as clockmaster for  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 . 4 adjustment positions are seen on number XII.
 
Original blues steel hands. The escapement has been modified from its original crownwheel with  a heavy and ajustable  pendulum keeping  very accurate time. By pulling a cord it rings on demand the quarts on three bells.

The whole clock is covered with Boulle marquetry in a brown tortoiseshell background  and fine brass inlays with engravings.  The rear door which gives access to the movement features a remarkable marquetry design pattern with figures of grotesques inspired by Berain or BVRB repeated  both on the interior side and in counterpart (tortoiseshell on a brass background) on the exterior side.

This double cut marquetry was characteristic on the most  luxurious timepieces as displayed by aristocrates in the middle of the rooms on stands  also seen through mirrors walls.The rich ornulu trim design of this cartel is composed of an antic lamp (very specific of the workshops of AC BOULLE), crown king pediment, lower part of the dial signed THURET, aries hoof feet, folliage, palms.

A very similar cartel clock signed from Thuret  is documented on book "La Pendule Française by Pierre Kjellberg - page 42 --very similar Louis XIV clock design with movement by THURET, locales in Versailles library.

Reference:
  - Dictionary of French clockmakers-Tardy- Thuret Isaac recorded as Watchmaker of King Louis XIV - ca 1684.