French Morbier Tall Case Clock

The handsome Morbier clock was produced by clockmaker and retailer Piriou of Quimper, France. Piriou was well known for Country French Morbier clocks in the mid- to late 19th century. This wonderful example shines with the craftsmanship of the Franche-Comté region. The stained pine case maintains its original finish and is embellished throughout with engraved decorative details and painted floral accents. Characteristic of most Morbier clocks, there is an abundance of impressively embossed or repoussé brass work. In this case, a dial mask depicting a joyous ‘La Retour Au Foyer’/The Homecoming and floral spandrels, along with a very sizeable and ornate pendulum.

Keeping the time within is an 8-day 2-weight Morbier movement with bell strike announcing the hour and half-hour. Additionally, the hour strike will repeat two or three minutes after the hour, which is often attributed to hourly prayer start and end times or simply another chance to confirm the time. The time displays on a hand-painted dial with Roman numerals and pierced brass hands. There is also a calendar ring and calendar hand.

Morbier movements are from the Franche-Comté region of France near the Swiss border, where farmers in the area took up a winter ‘cottage industry’ of crafting clock parts. The parts were mostly made and finished by hand and were comparatively large as French clocks go. Local clock makers assembled the parts into finished clocks, which were in turn purchased by folks traveling through Morbier on the main route to and from Geneva. They were also produced as custom orders or as a collaboration such as this Piriou example.

91″H x 19″W x 8″D

Circa 1880