With a four-day pass from Landstuhl Army Hospital, where I was stationed, my wife Daniele and I drove about 150 miles to the Burgundy (Bourgogne) province of France in the late fall of 1968 to sightsee and to taste the new wines of the season.
We drove through Dijon; the capital city of Burgundy and spotted a brocante (a semi junk dealer). In his barn was this old pine artistically stained and decorated country French grandfathers clock covered with dust.
Its rounded bulge in the middle accommodates the long pendulum swing. The clock was originally powered by heavy weights and a chain pulley system. Surrounding the face of the clock is the figure of Napoleon embossed in bronze. His hand is tucked into his shirt.
Therefore, I think this clock was made sometime after 1825. On the enamel face is painted “Bailley a Nolay” which is the name of the clock maker located in Nolay, a charming medieval town on the outskirts of Beaune. These towns are prosperous and beautiful due mainly to the wine business and tourism.
Bailley was a successful clock maker until the late 1800’s when their old mechanisms were outmoded by more precise spring clocks from Switzerland and Germany. Bailly went out of business around 1875.
(Editor’s note: Palisades resident Howard Yonet has an interesting collection of curios from around the world and with his permission, Circling the News is publishing one a week. About the collector: Dr. Howard Yonet was born in Brooklyn in 1934 and attended Brooklyn College. He went to Baylor Medical School and then returned to do an internship at Bellevue Hospital. Yonet completed his residency at the Manhattan V.A. and the Montefiore Hospital. During this time he went skiing in Vermont and the Catskills, and while traveling found barns filled with early American pieces. This led to his interest in American Antiques.
In 1965, he married Daniele, who was originally from Nancy, France. During the Vietnam War, Yonet was drafted as a medical officer and stationed in Landstuhl, Germany (1966-1969). This was close to the French border, which meant he and Daniele and could visit her family.
While abroad, the Yonets took weekend trips through France and Italy, purchasing many interesting pieces at flea markets.
The family settled in Pacific Palisades in 1970 and Yonet practiced general radiology until 2006. He continued to acquire antiques and collectables at estate and garage sales and the Salvation Army Store. He also enjoyed looking for collectibles while traveling in Montana, Idaho, Colorado and Massachusetts. Daniele’s family helped add to his collection.)
BEAUTIFUL!! I absolutely love to see your collected items and hear the history behind each one. Thank you, Howard.