Godon, François Louis

François-Louis Godon (1740-1800), a Frenchman, was appointed Chamber Clockmaker by Charles III on 9th May 1786 and assigned to the service of the Prince of Asturias. He worked mainly as a “marchand mercier" or art dealer. One year ago, he had entered into an agreement with another renowned watchmaker, Jean-Baptiste-André Furet (1720-1807) in Paris, to manufacture most of the clocks that Godon sent to Madrid to decorate the new Royal Palace and the royal sites. Shortly afterwards, he began working with the Swiss enamelworker Joseph Coteau (1740-1801), who made many of the dials for these clocks.

After his arrival in Spain, Godon sold a large number of clocks, jewellery, furniture and decorative items from Paris to King Charles IV and Queen María-Luisa of Parma. Godon died in Bayonne on 17th January 1800, when he was passing through the city on his way to Madrid with a shipment of luxurious objects for the monarchs.