Napoleon III clock. France, third quarter of the 19th century

Napoleon III clock. France, third quarter of the 19th century
Wooden core and marquetry of part and counterpart in brass and tortoiseshell. Hand-painted porcelain dial, enameled.
With Brocot suspension.
Signed on the dial and on the machinery: "A. Brocot & Delettrez / Paris".
Preserves pendulum and key
It has slight flaws
Measurements: 43 x 24 x 14, 5 cm.

This clock presents an elegant and detailed design, with a predominantly rectangular structure and ornamentation in gold and red tones. The upper part houses a circular dial with Roman numerals in black on a white background, surrounded by a decorative border with floral motifs in gold tones. The lower case, which holds the dial, is richly decorated with intricate vegetal and geometric designs in relief, typical of the Boulle style, combining gilt bronze with inlaid tortoiseshell and other materials.On the lower front, a glass window allows a view of the pendulum in movement

Louis-Achille Brocot (1817-1878) was a watchmaker and mathematician. He was probably the most inventive of the five brothers of watchmaker Louis-Gabriel Brocot. He held numerous patents and invented and improved many aspects of watchmaking, most notably through the escapement he developed and to which he gave his name. He also invented a regulating device for the pendulum spring in 1855. In 1851, Jean-Baptiste Delettrez became his business partner. At the Universal Exposition of 1857, the company won a first-class medal for a pendulum with calendar and moon phase. After Brocot's death in 1878, Delettrez continued to work alone. The watches were then signed "JBD".