Sundial - Maison Moullet - Les Alberts

This elegant Louis XVI-style clock in the hamlet of Les Alberts dates from 1830 and was restored by Evelyne Rey-Peyrot in 1994.
This dial bears the motto “It's always time to do good.”
Several details are worth noting:
- the large oval medallion in red ochre that frames the hour table
- the floral garland that surrounds it (botany was fashionable under Louis XVI)
- the green ribbon bow at the bottom
The hours written in Roman numerals, the crescent moon in the center of the dial, which replaces the traditional sun, and the “M” on the crescent moon, the initial of “Moullet,” the name of the dial's owner, are the other decorative elements. For the record, to the left of the “M” there was an “H,” the initial of Mr. Moullet's first name, which was not rewritten when the dial was repainted.

This dial bears two dates:

The first date is September 21, 1830. In 1830, the Louis XVI style (in vogue from 1774 to 1789) was no longer fashionable, but in the Alps, fashions and artistic trends always arrived a little late. This is why the Louis XVI style can still be found nearly 40 years after the king's death.

The second date is May 11, 1934. This is the date on which the dial, which was in poor condition, was repainted. Repainting a dial means not only redoing the colors but also changing its decoration. In this case, the floral garland was changed.
Finally, in 1984, the clock face underwent a complete restoration. The floral garland was restored to its original state, with nothing removed and nothing added to the decoration. The date 1934 was retained because it is part of the clock face's history.