A "MAGESTIC", ONE OF A KIND PRECISION REGULATOR, C 1850

FRENCH, STANDING PRECISION REGULATOR, CIRCA 1850

DIAL IS SIGNED, "P. BERNARD, CITE' 4, PASSAGE DES PASTES, PARIS".

PETER BERNARD WAS LISTED AS A BRONZE AND FURNITURE MAKER IN THE 1850'S. SINCE HE WAS NOT A CLOCKMAKER, HE OBVIOUSLY MADE THIS ONE OF A KIND CASE AS A SPECIAL ORDER AND COMMISIONED A FINE CLOCKMAKER TO MAKE A PRECISION MOVEMENT TO FIT INTO HIS CASE. 

ALL THE BRONZE FIGURES ARE STAMPED  "P.B." ON THE BACK.  I MAINTAINED THIS CLOCK FOR YEARS WHEN I WAS IN NYC FOR A MEMBER OF THE ORIGINAL FAMILY.  SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS MADE FOR HER FAMILY WHO LIVED IN ITALY IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.  SHE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE FAMILY ALWAYS REFERRED TO THE CLOCK AS THE "CELESTIAL CLOCK".  SINCE SHE WAS THE LAST LIVING RELATIVE, I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO  PURCHASE THE CLOCK.

THE MOVEMENT IS A PINWHEEL ESCAPEMENT WITH A COMPENSATED PENDULULM AND SWEEP SECONDS.  NOTICE THE MOST UNUSUAL WEIGHT THAT IS A LEAD FILLED,  GILDED BRONZE "TASSEL".

THE CASE AND BRONZE WORK HAS MUCH OF THE ORIGINAL GILDING AND FINISH.(NOTE THE GILDED STARS ON THE GLOBE). 

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE CLOCK IS DISASSEMBLING, SHIPPING AND ASSEMBLING.  THE TOP ONLY (THE ROUND GLOBE AND THE CUPIDS) IS PROBABLY OVER 100 LBS.   I WOULD HAVE TO PERSONALLY INSTRUCT A VERY KNOWLEDABLE PERSON OR DO IT MYSELF.

ALL I HAVE TO ADD IS THAT THE PHOTOS DO NOT CAPTURE HOW MAJESTIC THIS CLOCK IS.   IT IS 8 FT. 8 INCHES.  WHEN THE ORIGINAL FAMILY NAMED IT THE "CELESTIAL CLOCK", IT WAS THE PERFECT TITLE.

I SUGGEST THAT ANY BUYER OF THIS CLOCK SHOULD COME TO SEE IT IN PERSON, BECAUSE ONCE AGREED UPON,  IT WILL BE A CONFIRMED SALE.