92nd Auction
2015/11/14
Lot 64
Robert Robin à Paris, 495 mm, circa 1792
A precision regulator of museum quality with half hour / hour strike and four weeks power reserve, manufactured in the fourth year (An IV) of the French Revolution
Case: mahogany, rectangular body with glazing on all sides, moulded base with circular firegilt ornamental frieze, glass framing with cyma molding, rectangular moulded gable with circular firegilt decorative strip. Dial: enamel, radial Roman hours, applied gold indexes, signed, gilt brass bezel with anthemion, blued Breguet hands. Movm.: solid and very fine round pendulum movement, signiert "Robin l'an IV", solid moulded movement pillars, pin wheel escapement, 2 barrels for going and striking train, locking plate, 1 hammer/1 bell, compensation grid-iron pendulum with knife edge suspension, brass pendulum bob.
Robert Robin (1742-1799)
Robin was a clever and imaginative watchmaker - he was also very ambitious and collected many titles and offices during his lifetime. His inventions and designs made him one of a small group of important makers who greatly influenced horological technology at the end of the 18th century and and who made vast improvements to timekeeping instruments. Robin’s career took off when the Académie des Sciences approved two of his inventions in 1778; during the same period of time he also improved his exquisite mantel clocks by fitting them with astronomical indicators and compensated pendulum. Robin used the same designs for all of his clocks and their cases were always elegant and had an unusually modern appeal. All his pieces were in great demand by the court and the king’s household and Robin delivered a great number of clocks to the court. The inventory lists for 1788 show that the king and his household owned seven of Robin’s clocks - in 1793 the queen alone owned 23 while Monsieur, the brother of King Louis XVI, had about ten in his possession. Favoured by the Royal family, Robin’s clocks were highly sought-after by the members of the Parisian high society and he counted the most renowned customers among his clientele. Robin clocks were bought for example by Marshals Duc de Duras and Duc de Richelieu, who were the king’s personal valets, and by the Marquis de Sérent, who was tutor to the Ducs d'Angoulême and de Berry.
Source: "Les Ouvriers du Temps", by Jean- Dominique Augarde, Antiquorum Editions, 1996.
A precision regulator of museum quality with half hour / hour strike and four weeks power reserve, manufactured in the fourth year (An IV) of the French Revolution
Case: mahogany, rectangular body with glazing on all sides, moulded base with circular firegilt ornamental frieze, glass framing with cyma molding, rectangular moulded gable with circular firegilt decorative strip. Dial: enamel, radial Roman hours, applied gold indexes, signed, gilt brass bezel with anthemion, blued Breguet hands. Movm.: solid and very fine round pendulum movement, signiert "Robin l'an IV", solid moulded movement pillars, pin wheel escapement, 2 barrels for going and striking train, locking plate, 1 hammer/1 bell, compensation grid-iron pendulum with knife edge suspension, brass pendulum bob.
Robert Robin (1742-1799)
Robin was a clever and imaginative watchmaker - he was also very ambitious and collected many titles and offices during his lifetime. His inventions and designs made him one of a small group of important makers who greatly influenced horological technology at the end of the 18th century and and who made vast improvements to timekeeping instruments. Robin’s career took off when the Académie des Sciences approved two of his inventions in 1778; during the same period of time he also improved his exquisite mantel clocks by fitting them with astronomical indicators and compensated pendulum. Robin used the same designs for all of his clocks and their cases were always elegant and had an unusually modern appeal. All his pieces were in great demand by the court and the king’s household and Robin delivered a great number of clocks to the court. The inventory lists for 1788 show that the king and his household owned seven of Robin’s clocks - in 1793 the queen alone owned 23 while Monsieur, the brother of King Louis XVI, had about ten in his possession. Favoured by the Royal family, Robin’s clocks were highly sought-after by the members of the Parisian high society and he counted the most renowned customers among his clientele. Robin clocks were bought for example by Marshals Duc de Duras and Duc de Richelieu, who were the king’s personal valets, and by the Marquis de Sérent, who was tutor to the Ducs d'Angoulême and de Berry.
Source: "Les Ouvriers du Temps", by Jean- Dominique Augarde, Antiquorum Editions, 1996.
Sold
estimated
22.000—30.000 €
Price realized
27.300 €