Featured French tortoise shell clock help

Hello

Hoping to figure out the maker (only found 222 in back). Year and possibly idea of value? (Not sure if that's allowed) 4 glass panels, red tortoise marquetry. Estate sale find. Ive searched a clock identification guide website with over 5000 French clocks.. found 4 with similar dials, but that's it. Thank you.

 

Here is the back, inside.

 

The term "Boulle" may help narrow your search. It refers to the combination of brass and tortoiseshell marquetry developed by the French cabinetmaker Andre Charles Boulle.
This site may be helpful with possible value:
https://www.carters.com.au/index.cfm/index/5383-clocks-boulle/

But I have also found references to reproduction French Boulle clocks.

To confirm that the tortoiseshell is genuine, examine it with a strong magnifying glass/loop. The dark areas should appear as individual spots of pigment, not as smears of color.

 

Thank you. I have the letter of purchase from the jeweler who sold it in 1970 Phoenix Biltmore fashion square. They paid $4000 then...he states it is red tortoisshell and is circa 1840...but since it was 1970, im questioning i guess.
.so i will definitely do that. Thank you. I found a clock with exact clock face, tortoiseshell, finials and feet...made by mage? But i don't know if parts were interchangeable... thank you again for the link and help!

 

I would expect a clock of this seeming quality to be signed ?

 

French clocks were rarely signed from what i have read.

 

Additionally, the getty museum is filled with Andre Charles Boulle furniture, that they only attribute to him, since it's all unsigned.

 

That bill of sale is extremely important. Sea turtles such as the hawksbill (the most common source of tortoiseshell) have been a protected species since passage of the endangered species act in 1973. (I am assuming you are located in the US.) Being able to document that the clock is known to have been acquired prior to that date may remove some of the barriers to any resale. But it would be wise to double check with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Awesome, thank you.

 

That's quite a site, @2manybooks !!!!!

 

Is there a figure on the top of your clock, @Estateraiders ? Just curious!!!

 

Its a vase surmount on top. Hmm...here you go.... you can find mage under french clock makers, his pieces sell rather higher than most from my research. Thanks again to those who helped!

https://www.antiqueclockspriceguide.com/maker.php?letter=m

 

I did search carters.. wasnt very helpful. Not much to look at. The link i posted above had over 5100 french clocks ... not including all the other clocks... like i said i found 4 with similar features.

 

Are you all ex ebayers? Or current ebayers? Lol... getting that vibe. I do have a large following elsewhere. Was looking to find a few sites i could recommend to my 100,000 + followers. I review..stuff.

Looking for friendly and helpful.

 

I think you have to be pretty careful with state lines with some materials too. Not sure if this is one of them but just a thought.

 

Out of 100,000 followers not one could help with your item ?

 

Good thing im not selling it.

 

Boulle stuff is absolutely beautiful, but from what I've read, it's almost impossible (or very difficult) to maintain. Since Tortoiseshell is a natural product, it can shrink and dry out over time, and that causes the piece to be uneven and the brass and/or shell can pop out.

I love the effect of the brass and shell, but trying to keep it together would give me a nervous breakdown.