Small alcove cartel clock in Martin varnish, Paris, Louis XIV period, circa

Rare small violin-shaped clock with a Martin varnish finish, decorated with polychrome flowers on a green ground for the case and garden motifs, birds, ribbons, a basket, etc., for the base. Beautiful rocaille bronze ornamentation.
The dial with thirteen enamel plaques and the back of the movement are signed "Mareau à Orléans."
The oak case is stamped A.J. Jollain.
Original wire-driven movement, in perfect working order (serviced by our watchmaker).
Original winding and dial-opening keys.

Parisian work, Louis XV period, circa 1765.

Total height: 72 cm
Case: Height: 52 cm, Width: 26 cm
Base: Height: 20 cm Width: 32 cm

Adrien Jérôme Jollain, a Parisian cabinetmaker, became a master on August 1, 1763.
Born into a family of watchmakers, he primarily produced clock cases and mantel clocks, which were likely sold with unsigned family movements to provincial dealers.

These dealers simply added their names and resold the pieces.

Indeed, his stamp can be found on clocks bearing the marks of watchmakers from Besançon, Versailles, Orléans, Auxerre, and other cities.

However, the quality of the movements and enamel dials is undeniably Parisian.

It is rather amusing to note that our Orléans watchmaker was unable to engrave his full name, as the backplate is very small.

Our opinion:

The very small size of our clock makes it a rather rare piece.

Intended to adorn an alcove (a recess in the wall where beds were placed in the 18th century), it measures barely 72 cm when placed on its console.

Generally equipped with a small dial made from a single piece of enamel, our model has received special attention. With its miniature dial composed of thirteen enamel pieces, its decoration featuring garden motifs, and its antique-style lamp at the top, it displays the finest embellishments fashionable at the end of Louis XV's reign. Despite its small size, with its original varnish in good condition and its movement in perfect working order, it bears the stamp of a renowned Parisian master, an undeniable mark of quality.