Vernis Martin Musical Mantel Clock with Quarter Repeat

A splendid and important Swiss Louis XV quarter repeating clock with quarter hour/hour strike and musical movement on bells that activates on the hour and can be also activated manually. The green Vernis Martin case with matching bracket is decorated with colored flowers and gilt bronze appliques; volutes, laurel scrolls and acanthus. Lateral sound frets with open work, brass grilles and green silk lining. The musical movement plays tunes via a pinned barrel on ten bells.

Even though this outstanding bears the French signature Masson a Paris, it was definitely produced in La Chaux-du-Fonds and can be attributed to Pierre Jaquet-Droz. A number of almost identical pieces with his signature have been illustrated and described in detail in literature.