An unusual French split-pearl decorated gilt brass decorated miniature carriage timepiece Unsigned, circa 1900 The French frosted gilt eight-day movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with serial number 2214 to backplate, the rectangular frosted silvered dial with blued steel hands and vertical Arabic numeral hour chapters set within circular surround applied with split pearls to centre, the bevel-glazed case of Mignonette No. 1 size with hinged reeded baton and double scroll handle over moulded cornice incorporating a band of split pearls and to the canted corner uprights, on conforming complex moulded base with squab feet, 6.5cm (2.625ins) high excluding handle. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands. Miniature carriage clocks are called Mignonettes or 'little darlings' and come in three graded sizes with No. 1 being the smallest.