A rare French Louis XIV boulle inlaid ebony quarter striking 'tête de poupé' table clock, Gribelin A Paris, circa 1680

13-cm shaped foliate scrolled engraved dial signed Gribelin A Paris and subsidiary for up/down above, strike/silent lever outside III, chapter ring with cartouche Roman numerals and full outer minute marking, fine shaped hands, similar signed three train movement with shaped plates and five baluster pillars, verge escapement with silk suspended pendulum and plain balance combination, countwheel quarter striking on two surmounted bells, 'contre partie' boulle inlay of pewter and tortoiseshell in brass shaped case with ebony mouldings, dome top surmounted by a putto and corner flambeau finials above a pierced gilt brass gallery, glazed front door, moulded plinth raised on turned feet

Nicolas Gribelin (1637 – 1719) born in Blois as the son of the clockmaker Abraham Gribelin, went to Paris to work there. His talent and skill are illustrated by the fact that he became ‘Clockmaker to the Monseigneur’ in 1674. He was accepted by the clockmaker guild as a master clockmaker in 1675 and became ‘juré’ for this guilt in 1676. His shop was located at the Rue de Bucy. Lit.; Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français, pp 274.