Fontenoy French Westminster Chime Mantel Clock Fully Serviced Mahogany Case
Mahn & Co Clock Repairs. Fontenoy French Westminster Chime Mantel Clock.
A restored three train French mantel clock with full Westminster quarter chime. A beautifully restored vintage French mantel clock by Fontenoy, featuring a quality three train Westminster chime movement housed in an elegant shaped wooden case with decorative inlay. This is a much more unusual piece than the standard British or German mantel clocks commonly seen, with a refined French made movement and a warm, attractive case design. French Fontenoy three train movement. Hourly strike after the full chime sequence.
Attractive shaped wooden case with inlaid detail. Original aged silvered dial with period character. Fully serviced, cleaned and tested.
The movement has been fully dismantled, cleaned, inspected, lubricated and reassembled. The mainsprings have been cleaned and correctly greased, pivots checked, and the chime and strike mechanism adjusted and tested. The clock is now running happily, striking correctly and playing the Westminster quarters as it should.
The case presents very well with a deep, attractive finish and lovely figuring to the wood. There are signs of age and use as expected, but overall it displays beautifully.
The silvered dial has honest age related spotting and patina, which has been left intact to preserve originality. The bezel and brass fittings show age commensurate with the clock's period. Relatively little formal company history survives, and genuine Fontenoy clocks are considered scarce today, most commonly found as wall clocks, with mantel and longcase examples being notably harder to find. The firm's movements bear a strong resemblance to those of the German maker Petersen. Horological research suggests this is no coincidence: Walter Petersen, a technical developer at Gebr. Petersen of Schwenningen, is believed to have moved to Paris in the 1930s to co-direct the Fontenoy factory on behalf of its owner.The venture came to an end with the outbreak of the Second World War, giving Fontenoy a production span of little more than two decades. Beyond the familiar Westminster chime, some models, including three train examples like this one, were also capable of playing a unique melody known simply as the Fontenoy chime, exclusive to the factory and rarely seen on clocks from any other maker.
Given the brand's short production life and the disruption of wartime Europe, surviving Fontenoy clocks in good working order, particularly those with Westminster striking and original cases, represent a genuinely uncommon piece of French horological history. 24 cm / 9.4 in. 40 cm / 15.7 in. 15 cm / 5.9 in. Please see photographs for scale. Important Note: This is a vintage mechanical clock and, as such, may require minor adjustment after transport and setup. It should be placed on a level surface and allowed to settle once unpacked. At Mahn & Co, each clock is carefully selected, restored and tested before sale. We focus on quality vintage and antique mechanical clocks with character, charm and proper attention to detail. A distinctive and uncommon French Westminster mantel clock, ideal for collectors or anyone looking for something a little different from the usual mantel clock offering. Antique & Vintage Clock Restoration, Norwich. Every clock inspected, serviced and tested before it leaves our workshop.