Signed en dated: Robin H.ger du Roi et de Madame An 1819

Contra-enamel signed: Dubuisson 1819

France

An extremely important French mahogany month-going and quarter striking longcase regulator with remontoir and with equation of time and year calendar.

The case is of superb proportions and has an arched superstructure on the overhanging top, supported by 18 brackets above a dentilled rim. The front frieze panel slides to the side, revealing the winding square for the striking mechanism. The sides have moulded glazed rectangular panels, the front door has a spring-loaded pinhole catch and the ormolu bezel has a convex glass. Complete with concave moulding on the skirted plinth and with raised rectangular panels to the front and sides.

The white enamel dial is signed and dated at the centre Robin H.ger du Roi et de Madame An 1819, with Arabic hour numerals and with minute and seconds division, gilt-brass hands for hour and minute mean time, blued steel counterpoised sweep center seconds and blued steel arrowhead equation hand. The dial is signed and dated Dubuisson 1819 on the reverse, while the white enamel year calendar ring below is signed Dubuisson on the reverse, revolving against a blued steel arrowhead hand, inscribed with the months and their corresponding deity and date. The skeletonised centre shows the equation kidney wheel with central winding square for the going work.

The high quality spring-driven movement is signed and dated Robin H.ger du Roi et de Madame An 1819 on the backplate, the going train has a 5-seconds remontoire and a deadbeat anchor escapement, while the massive gridiron pendulum is knife-edged suspended and has nine steel and brass rods. The front is applied with a silvered temperature scale and with a blued steel pointer and a silvered beat scale below, while the separate spring-driven striking movement is mounted on the top. The striking mechanism has a skeletonised countwheel and a separate commander disc to tip the bells in the right position, with hour, half-hour and quarter strike on two bells, complete with original winding key.

Duration: 1 month

Jean Joseph Robin was born the eldest son of Robert Robin (1742-1799), one of the greatest French horologists of the 18th century. Jean Joseph was established in the Rue St.-Honoré in Paris during the period 1806-1812, and in the Rue Richelieu from 1815-1825. He was highly regarded as a clockmaker and during his lifetime managed to achieve the same high standard of work as his father. He died in 1858, sadly without descendants.

Gobin Etienne, known as Dubuisson, was one of the most sought after enamellers in Paris during the latter half of the 18th century.