A rare and attractive French Directoire ormolu enamel skeleton clock with revolutionary time and calendar, enamels attributed to Joseph Coteau

13-cm enamel chapter ring with Arabic chapters, pierced engraved gilt hands and blued sweep seconds, inner polychrome marking for revolutionary days and outer date marking with blued pointers, countwheel bell striking movement with pinwheel escapement mounted on the backplate, plain gilt balance below with engraved fast/slow subsidiary, ormolu case surmounted by an eagle on a blue and gilt enamel subsidiary for moonphase with trailing flowers to the sides, shaped central section with a skeletonised subsidiary for revolutionary time and calibrated for months with fine enamel panels of gilt floral swags on a blue ground signed Bisson A Paris, grisaille panels showing winged classical ladies involved with the arts, flanked by inverted horns of plenty and caryatids, raised on tapered feet, rectangular white marble plinth with grotesque enamel decor raised on engraved toupee feet

An almost identical clock signed Bisson and the enamels by Joseph Coteau is depicted and discussed in P. Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française du moyen age au XXe siècle, Paris, 1997, 324 - 325.

Another less complicated skeleton clock but of similar lay-out and comparable enamels by Coteau is depicted in Tardy, French Clocks the World Over, part two, Paris, 1981, p.206. And a similar one by Béliard p. 240.

dials and enamel all in good condition, hands in good condition, movement able to function and in good condition, recently cleaned, all gilding appears intact and clean, clock must have been under a glass dome and has therefore withstood the age very well, no winder
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

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Joseph Coteau (1740-1812) was possibly the most famous enameller of his day, supplying dials for the great clockmakers of France. Born in Geneva he became maître-peintre-émailleur at the Académie de Saint-Luc in Geneva in 1766. By 1772 he was installed in Rue Poupée, Paris. Coteau is celebrated not only for his dials but also as a skilled miniaturist. He discovered a new method for fixing raised gold on porcelain and worked closely with the Sèvres factory in developing their 'jewelled' porcelain. After the abolition of the guilds in 1791, enamellers were allowed to sell complete clocks without being required to include the name of the clockmaker.