Drocourt Engraved Gorge Carriage Clock with Strike, Repeat, and Alarm

This exceptional early French carriage clock by Drocourt is housed in a beautifully engraved gilt brass Gorge case, a design prized among collectors for its refined proportions and technically demanding construction. The term “Gorge,” meaning a steep valley or channel, refers to the deep hollow moldings that form to the elegant contours of the case. These complex shapes required greater skill and labor to produce and, as a result, were typically reserved for clocks of superior quality.

Every surface of the case is richly engraved with delicate foliate ornament, including the finely worked dial mask that frames the porcelain dial. The main dial displays Roman numerals for the hours, while a subsidiary porcelain dial below provides the alarm setting in Arabic numerals. Completing the case is an engraved rear plate fitted with a practical sliding dust cover over the winding apertures, a thoughtful detail that reflects the precision and care typical of Drocourt’s work.

The case houses an eight-day movement fitted with its original lever escapement, striking the hours on a finely tuned gong. The clock also features a repeat-at-will function, allowing the time to be sounded on demand, as well as an alarm complication, making it both mechanically sophisticated and highly practical for travel or bedside use.

Elegant, finely engineered, and richly decorated, this early Drocourt carriage clock embodies the craftsmanship and technical refinement that made French carriage clocks among the most admired portable timepieces of the nineteenth century.

7″ High x 3-3/4″ Wide x 3-1/4″ Deep

Circa 1850