Long-case Clock (régulateur)

The clock case is of one piece with three distinct sections: a slightly tapered base above a low plinth; a tall violin-shaped body with a corresponding window for viewing the pendulum, the entire front of which opens on two hinges at the proper right; and a bulbous hood with a circular lens over the dial that can be slid forward to gain access to the clock mechanism without having to move the case away from the wall. The case is veneered with tulipwood banded with amaranth; the latter shadowing the edges of the richly articulated foliate gilt-bronze mounts. Each section is embellished with a prominent mount: a large sunflower rosette at the center of the base; a Bacchic mask with grapes, vine leaves, and sheaves of corn in the hair, crowned by a palmette headdress, over the pendulum window; and, a fully modeled figure of Time holding a scythe and hourglass crowning the hood.The white enamel clock dial is painted in black with (from outer to inner rings): the five minute intervals in Arabic numerals, a chapter ring (for the minutes), the hours in Roman numerals, the days of the month in Arabic numerals, and the days of the week abbreviated (JEUD, VEND, SAME, DIMA, LUND, MARD, MERC) with their corresponding astrology signs (for Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury). The clock has gilt-metal minute and hour hands and plain metal second, date, and day hands. There are winding holes between IIII and V and between VII and VIII.