Michel à Paris

This is the signature of a Parisian clockmaker who was active during the second half of the 18^th century. Tardy mentions several clockmakers of that name who were active during the period, including Jean Michel, who became a master in 1770 and Nicolas Michel, who became master in 1779 (see Tardy, Dictionnaire des horlogers français, Paris, 1971, p. 463). Several clocks bearing the signature “Michel à Paris” are listed in archival documents; among them are those mentioned in the posthumous inventory of François-Camille, Prince of Lorraine in 1788, and that of Jean Masson de Plissay, secretary to Louis XV in 1767.