Y A FINE AND RARE FRENCH LOUIS XIV BOULLE ‘RELIGIEUSE’ TABLE CLOCK

Y A FINE AND RARE FRENCH LOUIS XIV BOULLE 'RELIGIEUSE' TABLE CLOCKCOUPE 'ANGLOIS HORLOGEUR DU ROY', PARIS, CIRCA 1675-80The two-train going barrel movement with plates measuring 5 by 5.75 inches united by five shouldered baluster pillars pinned at the rear and enclosing five-wheel trains and twin large diameter going barrels, the going train with verge escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum incorporating silk suspension, and the strike train with decorative scroll-pierced sculpted steel detent gates and high-position numbered countwheel for sounding the hours via a vertically pivoted hammer on a bell mounted behind the pediment of the case, the 10.25 by 8 inch engraved gilt brass dial with calendar aperture to the finely matted centre within silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with stylised leafy half hour markers and every minute numbered to the outer track, with scroll pierced sculpted steel hands and fine leafy flowering scroll engraved infill to the upper spandrel areas and lower margin flanking a boldly executed lambrequin panel signed Coupe Anglois Horlogeur, du Roy, Paris, in a case with three gilt brass flambeau finials and arched pediment incorporating complex mouldings bordering the tympanum faced in contra-parti marquetry with female mask flanked by Berianesque acanthus scrollwork executed in red shell and pewter into a brass ground, above conforming ebonised cornice and rectangular glazed front door applied with bead cast gilt brass surround within marquetry leafy scroll border, flanked by canted angles applied with full-height Corinthian pilasters further decorated with interlaced strapwork panels and leafy pendants to shafts and with cast multi-piece acanthus capitals, the sides with slender break-arch windows within pewter outlined panel decorated infill, the rear flush with rectangular panelled door, on complex ogee moulded shallow skirt base with brass bun feet.50cm (19.75ins) high including finials, 35cm (13ins) wide, 14.5cm (5.75ins) deep. James Cowpe is recorded in Loomes, Brian Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as becoming a Free Brother of the Clockmakers' Company in September 1654; he worked in the Vauxhall area of London and took an apprentice, Edward Worthington, in 1655. James Cowpe is noted as 'gone away' by 1662 and did not sign the oath of allegiance in 1697; although he appeared in the Company quarterage list in 1698 he was recorded as not paying quarterage for 39 years. An Edward Cowpe, (most likely James's son) is recorded as becoming a Free Brother in January 1688 but is believed to have left soon after. James or Jacques Coupe is recorded as being clockmaker to the King in Paris in 1680 and Edward Coupe similarly in 1683. From this it would appear that during the 1660's James moved to Paris and possibly sent his son, Edward, to London to become a Free Brother of the Clockmakers' Company in 1688 before returning to Paris to probably continue working in his father's footsteps. James also has a daughter, Elizabeth, who also became a clockmaker with Loomes noting that she signed her clocks 'Coupe Horlogeuse a Roi A Paris'. Loomes notes that some of the work of James Cowpe resembles that of Edward East suggesting that it is possible that he worked for East at some time. With this in mind it is perhaps interesting to note that the particularly fine and attractive dial engraving exhibits shows notable similarities to that of a longcase clock movement and dial by Edward East sold at Bonhams, London Fine Clocks 6th July 2016 (lot 103); and again, with the dial of an East table clock illustrated in Dawson, P. G., Drover C.B. and Parkes, D.W. Early English Clocks on page 85 (Plate 104). The bold signature lambrequin is also reminiscent of those seen on clocks on clocks by various London makers during the 1670's. The design and layout of the movement, however, is commensurate with those made by Parisian clockmakers from around 1675; a comparable movement by Gaudron Paris dating to around this time is illustrated in Plomp, Reinier Early French Pendulum Clocks, 1658-1700 on page 69, (Figure 121). The five-wheel trains are delicately executed and allow the clock to run for at least eight-days, the strike train incorporates finely worked scroll pierced strike detent gates typical of the best Parisian work of the period. When considering the 'English' style of the dial engraving alongside with the specification and layout of the movement a date of 1675-80 would seem most likely hence it is most probable that they were made by James Cowpe, rather than Edward. Although the pattern for the marquetry for the case does not appear to match other examples analysed in Plomp, Reinier Early French Pendulum Clocks, 1658-1700, two clocks by Thuret, both with matching elements within the marquetry (most notably to the column shafts), are illustrated in Tardy LA PENDULE FRANCAIS, I're Partie, De l'Horloge Gothique a la Pendule Louis XV on page 97. Condition Report: Movement is in fine clean fully working condition and is presented in its original form. A couple od spare holes to the plates near the reception suggest that the escapement may well have been converted to Brocot type recoil/anchor and subsequently reconverted. If the escapement is a re-conversion it has been executed to very high standard perfectly replicating the original. The frontplate has two holes (to the right of the escapement) suggesting that the hour bell was once supported on a stand screwed to the movement hence the present configuration with the bell mounted on the top of the case is a reinstatement of the original configuration. The dial is in fine original condition with some slight mellowing to the finishes only. The case is in fine fundamentally original condition with no problematic lifting or losses to the marquetry. There is some evidence of cosmetic restoration in the past (re-securing lifting to the marquetry and small veneer patch repairs/replacements to the pewter stringing to the sides. The movement and dial appear original to the case (there is no evidence of any other movement ever being fitted), the turn-latches that secure the movement in position (to the rear of the dial mask) have been re-positioned due to their original holes screw becoming worn.Clock is complete with pendulum, case key and winder. Condition Report Disclaimer