French 18 Carat gold quarter repeating carillon pocket watch Circa 1805

Gold open faced cylinder watch
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A large French 18 Carat gold, three hammers and three gong carillon quarter repeating watch, circa 1805. An Empire case with master mark VP reeded bezel and band. An engine-turned back and a hinged gilt brass cuvette. Gold dial with radial Roman numerals on a brushed chapter ring, outer minute ring, engine-turned centre and blued steel spear hands with pierced tips. A gilt brass movement, free standing barrel, jewelled cylinder escapement, three arm gold balance, flat balance spring, index regulator, repeating with three hammers on three polished steel square section gongs activated by depressing the pendant. Dial and cuvette signed.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Signed: Jean-Hilaire Bassereau  Paris
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Jean-Hilaire Bassereau (1743-1806) was an eminent maker working in the Palais Royal. He was possibly a pupil of Lepine, as a number of his watches strikingly resemble Lepine’s in their finish and details. He was also very versatile, on one hand making luxurious pieces such as carillon watches or singing bird watches, and on the other well executed but simple watches. He proved on occasion that precision timekeeping was not foreign to him, as is proven by a chronometer with pivoted detent escapement preserved in the British Museum. Subsequently, the business moved to Rue Vivienne, where it was continued by his son. It moved again to the Rue Neuve des Petits Champs. In 1810 it was taken over by Bassereau’s widow under which name it was registered until 1840 when it was sold to Henri Dautreme who ran it at the same address at Neuve des Petits Champs until 1890.