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Date Posted: 13:18:36 02/22/02 Fri
Author: --L
Subject: This is intriguing..
In reply to: PJ 's message, "Question for Those Who Speak French" on 13:07:41 02/21/02 Thu

I was intrigued by your question and did a little research. The Battle of Minden was fought in 1759 with the French and Austrians against the English and Prussians. The French were routed, so badly so that the during the English and Prussian advance, the soldiers were said to have picked wild roses growing on the field of battle and placed them in their hats. This would explain the appearance of roses on the clock. The iconography of peacocks is extensive, but I suspect, without knowing more about the particulars of the battle participants, that is the simple representation of heraldic design, perhaps linked with one of the British regiments. Consequently, I suspect it is actually British or German in origin since the losing side seldom commemorates a lost battle.

Now, about those words on the face of the clock. My guess is that Cendrier is the artists/craftsman/works that painted and created the piece and that "a la Chatres" roughly translates as after the style of Chatres or from Chatres. I'm not a clock expert so I'm not positive about their markings (location, symbolism, etc.). Usually there is a mark on the bottom of a piece which often is in a code that opens a world of information. I believe there are books that explain different porcelaine and metal markings. Try the local library and they might have one or borrow one for you.

Good luck and let us know what you learn!

--L

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Replies:

[> [> Thanks for that info...I had a few minutes to do a little research on the Internet. Did I really see that Cendrier is French for ashtray? This clock has been in our family just about all of my life...but suddenly, at 40, I've got this strange curiosity about it. When my dad died two summers ago, I inherited the clock. Oh, I wish I knew the many places and people this clock has seen. If I find anything out about it, I will let you know. -- PJ, 20:23:51 02/22/02 Fri


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[> [> Oh L, now you've got me learning history. (yikes!) LOL I assumed this was all about a war somewhere in Europe. (oy) My search eventually led me to a page about the history of Quebec and some perspective on Quebec nationalism as well at: http://www.uni.ca/history.html -- Shirleym, 12:34:09 02/28/02 Thu


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