Antique French Comtoise Clock Face & Brass Crest, Signed "Chavin a Grenoble"

Original 19th-century French Comtoise clock face with its pierced repousse gilt-brass crest and ornamental surround. The white enamel dial is signed in red script "Chavin a Grenoble" for the maker and his town in the Isere, and is finely decorated with a scalloped cloud-form chapter ring, hand-painted pink and blue flowers, and a ribbon bow. The crest shows the radiant sunburst mask over a flower basket flanked by acanthus, in a beaded and rope gilt surround with floret corners.

The painted decoration and the red signature make this the most decorative dial in the group. Hand-painted Comtoise faces command a premium over plain white examples and are considerably harder to find in good graphic condition.