ANTIQUE BRASS CARRIAGE CLOCK BY RICHARD & CO

ANTIQUE BRASS CARRIAGE CLOCK BY RICHARD & CO

Circa 1880

Height (including handle): 5¾ inches / 14.6 cm
Stock number: RG7283/0121
Price: £450 

A French brass corniche cased carriage clock by Richard & Co. The elegantly proportioned brass case with cast shaped handle, bevelled glass panels and oval top window displaying its original jewelled cylinder platform escapement, with black roman numerals on a white enamelled face with blued steel hands. An 8-day timepiece only movement. Backplate stamped with R & Co within an oval and numbered 467. Supplied with double-ended brass key. 

The parent firm, Richard et Cie was founded in Paris in 1848 (as Lemaitre & Bergnann), adding a London branch in 1857. In 1867 the branch became Richard & Co. of 24 Cannon Street, London. They advertised as offering “French clocks and carriage clocks (own make)” – going out of their way to stress “All Own Made Goods are of Guaranteed Quality and bear our Trade Mark”. Their full trademark comprises an R & C with entwined snakes in between, enclosed in an oval. Items bearing the mark R & Co are thought to denote a clock retailed by the company but not necessarily made by them.  The London business lasted until 1881.