103rd Auction

2020/11/7

Lot 142

Gallonde à Paris, Academie de Marine, Diameter 235 mm, circa 1780
An extremely rare early mobile precision regulator used by the Brest Naval Academy for purposes such as the observation of star transits and coastlines as well as surveying
Case: brass, cylinder shaped, mounted on a double plate with two screws, beat adjustment mechanism with threaded screw, lead and brass cylinder weights, cord pulleys. Dial: silvered. Movm.: cylindrical brass movement, 125 mm, pin pallet, steel pendulum, knife edge suspension.
Louis Charles Gallonde (1715-1771) was clockmaker and engineer to the king. Because of his many inventions he was one of the most renowned makers in the mid 18th century. He was a student of Nicolas Gourdain and Alexis Caron Charles.
Besides clocks Gallonde also constructed horological tools and physical instruments. Three of his inventions are kept in the archives of the Royal Academy of Sciences.
The Naval Academy in Brest was founded in April 1752 with the aim to improve the training of naval officers. Extensive research work was carried out alongside the practical training such as the piloting and maneuvering of ships. The academy not only owned a library but also a large collection of navigational instruments.
An almost identical piece was sold for 19,200 euro as lot number 54 during our 87th auction in 2013.

estimated
6.50012.000 €
Price realized
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