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N° 25

JACQUES NÈVE

Horloger d’Art + 32 477 27 19 08 - jneve@horloger.net - www.horloger.net

AUGUSTE MILLION

FRENCH COLONIAL INFANTRY CARTEL CLOCK

Circa 1930

Dial signed Auguste Million/Paris 1931

H. 72 cm (28½"), W. 47 cm (18½"), D. 13 cm (5")

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AUGUSTE MILLION

FRENCH COLONIAL INFANTRY CARTEL CLOCK BRONZE WITH TWO-TONE PATINA

Designed in the shape of a badge, the clock dial is transected by an anchor suspending the Cross of the Legion of Honour and flanked by two caryatids, each lifting an insignia with the initials ‘RF’ surmounted by a Lictor’s fasces symbolizing the French Senate; four anchors with exploding grenades stud the background.

Dial with day, date and lunar phases, signed and dated ‘Auguste Million/Paris 1931’. The hour and minute hands in engraved brass and finely cut in the shape of a battle-axe and sword respectively; the second hand in blued steel in the shape of an arrow; the calendar hand in brass with blued arrowhead indicating the 31 days of the month; the weekday hand in brass with blued crescent head.

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The movement was specially adapted from a Paris ébauche for wall clocks thus :

-Quarter-strike on two gongs situated at the rear.

-Motion work was completed to add indications of Moonphase, calendar and week calendar.

-A specially made vertical platform escapement with 4 beats a second (instead of the usual 5) is fitted, allowing for a center-sweeping seconds hand and self-start when the movement is wound.

These technical and visual features confirm the unique character of this cartel clock and suggest it was a specially commissioned order.

H. 72 cm (28½"), W. 47 cm (18½"), D. 13 cm (5")

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The present cartel was most certainly made to commemorate a French colonial infantry regiment and used to decorate the walls of an officers’ mess hall. Indeed, we find the identical cabled anchor and exploding grenade with the initials ‘RF’, for République Française, as the frontal insignia on a 1915 French colonial infantry Adrian helmet (figs. 1, 2).

Figs. 1, 2. French colonial infantry Adrian helmet and insignia detail

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The oak and laurel leaves decorating the underside of the clock dial, the elongated caryatids, each standing on a Louis XIV style pedestal, and the two-tone patina Legion of Honour Cross with the profile of Marianne wearing a Phrygian cap, are all symbols that make as much reference to the stylistic vocabulary of the decorative arts as they do to the illustrations ordinarily decorating military certificates or the menus of official banquets (fig. 3, 4).

Fig. 3. Banquet menu for the veterans Fig. 4. Certificate for the veterans of the War of 1870-71 of the 188ème Section d'Issoire, 28 June 1903

Figs 1,2,3 and 4: Bertrand Malvaux collection.

On 7 July 1900, after becoming part of the Ministry of War, Les troupes de la Marine (Marine Troops) took on the name Troupes Coloniales (Colonial Troops). These troops, whose participation in both World Wars became legendary, also took part in the Indochina Wars and the Algerian War of Independence. The Moroccan Colonial Infantry Division became the most decorated unit in the French army along with the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment whose flag bears the greatest number of battle honours in the army’s history.

An example of true artistry, the skilfully eclectic décor of this clock suggests it was a special commission designed to pay tribute to these highly distinguished troops.

(Special thanks to M. Bertrand Malvaux, militaria expert).

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