Gontard & Bolviller a Paris, a striking carriage clock: the eight-day duration movement striking the hours and half-hours on a bell with push button repeat of the last hour at will, with a replaced platform lever escapement, the backplate stamped with the trademark for Bolviller, Paris and numbered W 513, the white enamel dial having black Roman hour numerals, fine blued steel moon hands and signed Gontard & Bolviller, Paris, the cast brass case with floral decoration, with a fully engraved shuttered rear door, height 19.5cms handle up, 17cms handle down. * Biography Moïse Bolviller, born August 1800 in Metz, was a maker of French carriage clocks first recorded in Paris in 1829 having married in 1822. He often used blancs roulants (rough movements) supplied to him by the well-known makers Holingue frères as well as those from Japy frères, the latter usually having a sweep seconds hand. In circa 1847 Bolviller went into partnership with the well-known escapement maker Celestine Phillipe Gontard with whom he was awarded a patent in the following year for a detent escapement, the patent registered at the Gontard address 12 rue St, Hyacinthe, St. Honoré, whereas Bolviller is recorded working at rue Vendome 12 at this time. The partnership would seem to have ended in 1851 and Moïse Bolviller died in December 1874. * Note Reference Leigh Extence Early Carriage Clocks Pub. NAWCC May 2019