Posted 13 years ago
vetraio50
(756 items)
Some help with this item would be appreciated.
I bought it at a thrift shop six months ago for two dollars. When I fist saw it I thought it was an interesting little desk clock. I paid for it with some other items and left without having a really good look at it, because I had left my trusty loupe at home. I had seen that it had a signature.
When I got home I was able to read the signature of the "verrerie Schneider" in script on one of the ground facets of the glass. There are two facets that enable you to place it with the clock face at an 45 degree angle or at the horizontal when it faces the ceiling. On the clock face is the name of Imhof. I had heard of Arthur Imhof and had always wanted one of his art deco clocks; champagne tastes on a beer allowance ...... it had never happened. Something like what I've just seen: BELLIN68's new Jaeger-LeCoultre entry:
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/44238-jaeger-lecoultre-swiss-clock?in=activity
Imhof is an interesting character in himself and had five brands:
EPERON / IMHOF / MELISSA / HELVECO / HORODATE
I suppose this one is an Imhof as indicated on the dial. He described his work as "Manufacture de pendulettes d'art Arthur Imhof, La Chaux-de-Fonds". La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchatel, Switzerland, the birthplace of Le Corbusier, was the world capital of the watch-making industry for over a hundred years. La Chaux-de-Fonds was described by Karl Marx as a “huge factory- town” in Das Kapital .
On the backplate of the timepiece is engraved "8" / SWISS / LEVER ESCAPEMENT C244 and to one side 140667 / 15 jewels.
There are two distinct parts to this piece: glass and 'pendulette'.
The glass weight/clock case reminds me of the work of Maurice Marinot, arguably the greatest of the French glassmakers. Schneider did do some vases that imitated the work of the 'master'. I suspect it is from the late 1930's. The timepiece is not working at this stage. I have not troubled yet to have it repaired. The timepiece fits snugly into the glass base which has a plated metal rim.
Any additional information on Imhof and his "pendulettes d'art" would be appreciated as well any information about his links with Schneider.
Hi BELLIN!
Many thanks for your troubles.
I'd seen that book mentioned.
He was extremely well known.
Mind you, that new clock of yours is a real beauty!
I'd appreciate any more info you might find on my little one.
At home I use a Bulova that my partner bought for me at the MOMA shop in Singapore. It revamps a design by Frank Lloyd Wright. But as a school teacher bells and clocks were the bane of my life; so I've tended to avoid them, probably foolishly. These days I use my mobile as a timepiece and emergency tracking device!
I have found another one which has a different glass form and a movement by Schneider not Imhof:
http://cgi.ebay.fr/PENDULETTE-CRISTAL-SCHNEIDER-/300644532688?pt=FR_YO_Bijoux8horlogerie_HorlogesPendules&hash=item45ffcf81d0
Ther's this nice description of a Swiss Lever escapement:
http://www.clockwatch.de/index.html?html/tec/hem/ank.htm
I used to have a French deco marble clock, but it gave up the ghost. It's down in the shed still. Nothing glamorous. I refused to wear a watch for years because I couldn't afford a Cartier. I finally relented and bought a Tag Heuer but I wanted a deco Rolex by then. I came across a good watch finally after many years looking and bought a fifties Girard Perregaux, but gave it to my partner who needed a good dress watch as a banker.
I admire that Jaeger-LeCoultre.
It is really smart.
Make sure you keep it!
Otherwise you will regret it, believe me!
It's all about karma. What goes around....
Though, my mum reckons I'm just lucky:
"If it poured rain you'd be there with a bucket, Kev!"
Many thanks bratjdd!
That's an amazing one, vet!!! 2 dollars well spent! :)
Many thanks austrohungaro!
You folks must be in a different timezone. Either that or you don't sleep much! A solid marriage of art and time. I can't really get a good sense of scale but from the winding key it looks like a pretty small timepiece. Something a good, experienced watchmaker could get up and running for you in no time. It usually takes a lot to stop a spring powered clock but this is a precision instrument so a little dust and dirt, or evaporated oil will do it. Hopefully it is an easy fix. Two bucks?! Wow!
Many thank Bruce99 for the advice. I will get it looked at. It's a desk clock and has a height of 8cm (3.1 ")and a width of 9cm (3.5") on each side.
Many thanks BeauxPurdy too!
Many thanks kerry10456 !
Translation. Copy and paste into:
http://translate.google.com/
Define the language from on left and define English on the right side.
Translation programs are a problem so you have to use the grey matter too!
I've bookmarked a series of these language formats in my Bookmarks column.
I use Czech, French, Italian, Swedish and Dutch. Copy in smmalish chunks and paste; the translation is almost immediate. But it's not in any way perfect. It will only give a general idea of what it is about. Technology is slowly improving in this area.
I think the number of the clock is 140667.
The LEVER ESCAPEMENT C244 is a Swiss type of escapement used by many firms.
http://translate.google.com/
First step: Is it in French? (define the language).
Copy the text (control C) place it in the box (control V).
At top above the text pulldown language after From.
At right pulldown language after To
Press Translate and the translation should be in the box at right.
Many thanks BELLIN68!
The youtube movement thing is like an Andy Warhol movie!
I loved it!
And the deco clock site is amazing!
My favourite of all there though is the Gilbert Rohde/Herman Miller piece.
Thanks again!
Many thanks PhilDavidAlexanderMorris!
Many thaks mustangtony!
Many thanks tictocktime and bratjdd!
Many thanks Amber!
Many thanks ticktocktime!
Many thanks petey
Many thanks SEAN!
Your welcome Kevin:)
Many thanks NICOLEJERELEN and MSL too!
Many thanks AGHCOLLECT!
Many thanks ANTIQUEROSE!
Many thanks GEO26E !!!!!
Many thanks ANTIQUEROSE !!!!!!
Thanks VETRAIO50 -- if needed to loved again, and bumped up again.
Beautiful piece !!!
Many thanks NICEFICE !!!!!
Many thanks THOMAS !!!!!
Many thanks AURA !!!!!
Many thanks NEWFLD & ANTIQUEROSE !!!!!!