French Green Tole Wall Clock, Louis Montjoye, 18th Century

A very rare and desirable French, 18th century green tole wall clock decorated with gilt grapevines, the white painted dial with fine filigree gilt hands, hours in Roman numerals and an outer minute dial, signed by important clockmaker 'Montjoye A Paris', the brass movement similarly signed with script signature, with silk suspension, alarm and pull repeat

Louis Montjoye (1729 - circa 1815) was one of the foremost Parisian clockmakers of the second half of the 18th century.

After becoming a maître in August 1748, he opened a workshop in the rue Dauphine, gaining immediate recognition among Parisian connoisseurs of fine horology.

He worked for many of the most important merchants of the time including Dominique Daguerre and collaborated with remarkable artisans such as Charles Cressent, Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain, François Rémond and the Osmond family of bronze-casters for his clock cases.

During the 18th century his clocks were in the collections of the Duchess of Mazarin, the Duke of Richelieu and the Count of Vaudreuil; during the Revolutionary period one of his clocks was recorded as being in the Château de Montreuil in Versailles, which was the home of Louis XVI’s sister Madame Elisabeth.

Height 49.5cm, Width 23cm, Depth 10.5 cm