Legrand in Paris

Legrand in Paris.
Carriage clock, c. 1900.
Gilded bronze.
Signed on the dial.
Measurements: 17.5 x 9.5 x 8 cm.

Rectangular-case carriage clock in gilded bronze, with a molded cornice and a scalloped base resting on corbel feet. Folding handle with a sinuous profile, engraved with floral motifs. The side uprights are engraved with a stem of leaves, and the base features a frieze of flowers and branches.

The carriage clock originated in France in the early 19th century and is associated with Abraham-Louis Breguet, who, around 1812, made travel clocks for Napoleon. Its metal case with glass sides and an upper handle made it possible to transport an accurate clock on journeys without damaging the mechanism, hence its name, derived from the horse-drawn carriages in which people traveled.

Production reached its peak in the second half of the 19th century, particularly in Paris and the French Jura region, with firms such as Drocourt, Margaine, Duverdrey & Bloquel, and Paul Garnier. High-quality models featured gilded bronze cases and complications such as hour and half-hour chimes, hour repeaters, or alarm functions. Parisian watchmakers often signed the dial with their name, even if the movement came from specialized workshops—a very common practice.