Bofenschen à Paris

Bofenschen à Paris, circa 1800. Fine and rare mahogany, quarter striking dead centre seconds mantle regulator with perpetual calendar. Rectangular, moulded, with gilt-metal palmettes surrounding the base and engine-turned mouldings, on border of the triangular pediment and the four glazed sides. White enamel with Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds ring, inner concentrical date. Blued-steel Breguet hands. Brass, circular with going barrels on both the going and striking train, pin wheel escapement with a very unusual device on the back plate showing seconds from a half seconds beating grid-iron pendulum, knife edge suspension. Perpetual calendar work beneath the dial enabling the calendar hand to pass automatically for months of 28, 30 or 31 days. Striking on two bells. Signed on the dial. In very good condition. Dim. 55 x 30 x 20 cm. Notes The perpetual calendar work of this clock is drawn from that described by Moinet in his Nouveau Traité Général d'Horlogerie, Vol. 2, Ch.V, plate XLIV, fig.8 and 9. The very unusual device to show seconds from a half seconds pendulum, is apparently unique and has never been described. Bofenschen was working in Paris as early as 1780, on the Rue Saint Honoré, he moved in 1806 to the Boulevard du Temple, in 1810 to rue Croix des Petits Champs and in 1813 to the rue du Temple. He produced night clocks, clocks with organs and worked for Breguet.