ϒ A rare French silver mounted tortoiseshell miniature carriage timepiece in the form of a rotunda Maison Boin-Taburet, Paris, late 19th century The eight-day single train movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with serial number 36345 to lower left hand corner of the backplate, the circular engine-turned gilt brass Roman numeral dial with blued steel spade hands set behind a convex glazed bezel, the case in the form of a rotunda with tied floral ring handle over domed superstructure bound with eight panel-cast ribs and cavetto moulded frieze with projections over the seven Ionic half-column uprights interrupted at the front by the dial with ribbon tied laurel spray beneath, on circular stepped cavetto moulded base stamped BOINTABURET, A PARIS to underside, 11.5cm (4.5ins) high; with original gilt tooled brown leather covered protective case opening at the front to reveal cream silk lined interior further inscribed BOIN-TABURET.., 13cm (5ins) high overall Maison Boin-Taburet was established in 1873 when the antique dealer George Boin and the jeweller Emile Taburet went into partnership to specialise in the production and sale of Louis XV revival silverwork and became particularly well known for their surtout de tables many of which were crafted to resemble garden lakes or ponds with ornamental sculptures, fountains and urns. The firm was awarded a gold medal at the Paris 1889 Exposition Universelle and were also known as retailers of small items of furniture and decorative objects of the very highest order, made by the leading ébénistes of the day. Taburet and Boin continued in partnership together until 1900 when Georges Boin went into partnership with the silversmith Henry to establish Boin and Henry silversmiths.The current lot can be directly compared to an ivory-bodied example, also signed for Boin-Taburet, which was sold at Christies, South Kensington sale of The Dr. Eugene and Rose Antelis Collection of Important French Carriage Clocks Thursday 26th November 1998 (lot 123). ϒ indicates that this lot may be subject to CITES regulations when exported. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information.