225 - Travel alarm clock. France, early 20th century.

Travel alarm clock. France, early 20th century. Silver-plated and partially gilded metal, with side glass panels. Movement made in Paris. Dial with Arabic numerals and a subsidiary dial for the alarm at six o’clock. In good overall condition, with signs of wear consistent with its age. Measurements: 15 × 13.5 × 10 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. The careful combination of portability, an alarm mechanism, and historicist decoration places this piece within the French tradition of travel clocks that developed in the 19th century and continued into the early decades of the 20th century. The case, with its architectural structure and topped by an upper handle, allows the mechanism to be viewed through the glass sides, while the front has hallmarks of silver and gold, with profuse ornamentation featuring plant motifs and scrollwork. The circular dial features large Arabic numerals and a small subsidiary dial for the alarm, an element that underscores its functional character as a travel clock. The hinged back cover provides direct access to the movement and retains a grille designed to allow the sound of the alarm mechanism to be heard. The watch as a whole follows a design derived from the traditional French carriage clock, adapted here to the decorative tastes of the early 20th century.