A rare French industrial mantel clock, windmill, circa 1880

This animated industrial mantel clock in the shape of a windmill made by Guilmet is unusual and very collectable.

The case

The case is made of cast brass which was patinated and gilt lacquered and placed on a griotte rouge marble base. The boards, bricks, beams and ground all are made with great detail and fantasy. On the half timbered annular base with doors and a barometer is a tiled roof. This is being surmounted by a boarded rectangular upper part with doors and windows incorporating the clock movement. There is also a second separate mechanism in this upper part driving the windmill blades. The whole is topped by a boarded roof with a weather vane.

The movement

The spring driven movement has a duration of eight days which means one needs to wind this once a week. It is regulated by a cylinder escapement in combination with a balance wheel.