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c.1815 Large French Ormolu, Patinated Bronze and Red Variegated Mantle Clock.
Inv. #P109
A large and important French Empire figural mantle clock. The ormolu case with a stepped plinth has an extremely well cast and finished cockerel flanked by flambeaus, is covered by a drape and is surmounted by stacked books. The superbly cast patinated female, the personification of 'Study', is dressed in flowing classical attire, clutches a rolled ormolu scroll and casually leans upon the top book. The whole stands upon a red variegated marble base with bun feet that incorporates a wonderfully detailed frieze done in very high relief and depicts putti personifying 'Industry', 'Astronomy' and 'The Arts'.
The well-lettered white porcelain dial has black Roman numerals for the hours, 'a Paris' centered below and steel Breguet-style hands.
The eight-day time and strike movement has the fast/slow out the dial, the letter 'F' stamped on the backplate, countwheel striking on a bell and still retains the original silk-thread suspension.
Ref: Ottomeyer and Proschel attribute the design of this clock to Pierre-Victor Ledure.
Ledure was one of the leading bronzers of the early nineteenth-century and had apprenticed under the renowned bronzer André-Antoine Ravrio. Similar clocks are in the collections of the British Embassy in Paris, The Viana Palace in Madrid and the Brighton Pavilion.
For a similar example see:
'European Pendulum Clocks', Maurice, pg. 82.
'Vergoldete Bronzen', Ottomeyer and Proschel, pg. 349.
Height - 27.5in.
Retail Price: On Request
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c.1830 French Ormolu and Patinated Mantle Clock, LeRoy à Paris.
Inv. #P105
A very nice Charles X ormolu and patinated figural mantle clock by LeRoy. It depicts a winged Cupid partially clad in a long flowing cloth swinging from a patinated tree. Below is a stepped rectilinear base with an egg and dart molding, a frontal frieze that depicts Cupid secretly visiting Psyche and two winged front feet.
The silvered dial has an engine-turned center, black Roman numerals for the hours, steel-cut Breguet style hands and has the maker's name, 'LeRoy à Paris' on a cartouche centered below.
The eight-day time and strike movement has an outside countwheel, a silk-thread suspension with the fast/slow out the dial and strikes on a bell.
Ref: Tardy lists several LeRoys, but the one that is most commonly attributed with this style of clock is: 'Charles LeRoy, Rue du Temple, 1830'.
Height - 17in.
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1845 French Gilt and Silvered Bronze Miniature Mantel Clock, Raingo Fréres.
Inv. #P103
A very nice French mid-nineteenth century miniature mantle clock by Raingo Fréres. The cast gilt-bronze architectural multi-tiered case has elaborate floral designs on the case panels, the moldings and the domed top. It is also adorned in silvered-bronze mounts that include the toupie feet, an elaborate balustrade, four large corner balusters, multiple cartouches and winged figural corbels.
The dial has a shaped cast decorative center, white porcelain cartouche numbers with black roman numerals and steel-cut blued tre-foil hands.
The small eight-day time only movement is accessed via a lift out cast door, is wound off the backplate, retains its original silk-thread suspension with the fast/slow adjustment off the back and is stamped by both the movement maker, 'Cailly', and the clockmaker, 'Raingo Freres, Paris'.
Ref: Raingo Fréres are listed in Tardy's as working from 1829 to at least 1862.
Height - 8.5in.
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1820 French Ormolu Mantle Clock.
Inv. #P98
A French Ormolu Empire clock. The well cast ormolu case depicts Hercules casually leaning against a rusticated stump dressed in a lion's pelt with his club in one hand and some golden apples in the other. He is set upon a rectangular base with canted corners, four bold animal feet and numerous appliqués that include a large trophy freeze with a lion, club, foliage and bow and arrow.
The nicely lettered white porcelain dial has black Roman numerals for the hours and well-cut steel tre-foil hands.
The eight-day time and strike movement has the fast/slow out the dial and still retains its original silk-thread suspension.
Ref: For a similar clock see: 'French Bronze Clocks', Pg. 64, Fig. 89.
Height - 18.5in.
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1825 French Double-Sided Swinging Pendulum Clock.
Inv. #P93
A large and impressive double-sided early nineteenth century French gridiron pendulum clock. The clock is housed in the circular bob of a gridiron pendulum with nine oval shaped bi-metallic rods alternating between brass and steel and a lyre shaped mid section. It is suspended by steel suspension from the original bracket above.
Both flat porcelain dials have black Roman numerals for the hours, black minute chapters and steel Breguet-style hands. While one side has a sweep second hand the other has the winding square.
The 14-day time only movement has a pinwheel escapement, finely cut and executed wheelwork and a steel crutch. The crutch engages with a screwed pin beat adjustment that is mounted to a long steel rod screwed to the top bracket.
Double-sided clocks were often displayed in clock shop windows to both attract attention and provide the correct time to passersby. Since they were providing a public service and in turn advertising the shop the quality was always exceptional.
Height - 51in. (to top of bracket)
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1835 Extremely Rare French Two-Day Weight-Driven Skeleton Clock on a Musical Base, Moinau et Degrege, No.6.
Inv. #P90
A very rare example of a two day weight-driven skeleton clock with a musical base that is signed by the makers Auguste Moinau and Rolland Degrege, and numbered '6'. The polished skeletonized frame has heavy plates, thick round pillars screwed to the front plate and is supported by two Doric columns that frame a thermometer and stand on a musical base. It has delicate four spoke wheelwork, an anchor escapement, a passing strike on a bell at the hours and the half-hours, is stamped and numbered by the makers 'Augte Moinau et Rolland Degrege' and '6', and has an additional wheel in the motion work designed to power both the strike and the separate lifting mechanism that activates the musical snuff box at each hour. The pendulum has a lenticular bob, a steel suspension and has a screwed beat adjustment on the crutch. All three weights are suspended from a bowed crosspiece with an ormolu eagle clutching a silvered ball in the center.
The silvered and engraved chapter ring hour's dial has Roman numerals for the hours and steel-cut Breguet-style hands. The silvered engraved thermometer dial has a mercury tube and has all the usual indications in English which means the piece was most likely made for an English speaking market.
The rosewood base has a velvet covered top, decorative floral inlay to the front, stringing all around, four polished ball feet and contains both a large iron weight for ballast and a multi-tune Swiss musical snuff box. The box is activated at each hour by an ingenious lifting mechanism, is wound by pull-string out the side and plays one of four tunes at each hour for approximately 6 hours per wind.
While one of the weights powers the clock, the other two are counterweights and have just enough weight to supply the necessary tension to ensure the chain remains untangled. The continuous chain is lead through a series of pulleys, engages the great wheel in the center and cross at the back to engage the front of a pair of ratcheted wheels that are supported on either side by brackets screwed to the base. A third weight is suspended from above and is pinned to the grooved edge of the rear wheel as is the cord that is directed out the bottom and is used to wind the clock. As the winding cord is pulled, the driving weight travels upward, the opposing weight travels downward and the smaller weight is pulled up and then drops as it rewinds the cord. There is a pulley mounted under the base so the winding cord could be pulled from the front.
This particular model has always been popular especially in America where several pieces have evidently been signed by the eminent American maker Simon Williard. The overall quality, the Lepine aesthetics of the framework and weights and the kinetic artistry when it is wound make all of them wonderful pieces. This particular piece, however, is the finest example we have found as it is in superb condition, has the lowest recorded serial number, which probably places it in the first batch to be produced and is the only known striking example.
Ref: For similar Time-Only examples see 'Skeleton Clocks' by Derek Roberts, pg.97, 'The Victor Gilbert Collection', pg. 23 and 'American Antique Furniture' by Miller, pg. 991.
Auguste Moinau is listed in Tardy's as working in the first half of the 19th century and is credited with several horological discoveries.
Note: The original dome is slightly cracked and is included.
Height - 22.5in. w/out dome.
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1800 French Ormolu and White Marble Lyre Clock
Inv. #P84
A very nice quality French Louis XVI ormolu and marble lyre clock. The unusual ormolu frame is meant to simulate fabric with a beaded edge twisted and shaped into a lyre form. There are several additional mounts that include an oriental inspired parasol decorated with draped chain, a gorgon, a geometric fretwork freeze, scrolling foliage and several beaded edges. The whole stands on a stepped white marble base with simple bun feet.
The well-lettered white porcelain chapter ring dial has black Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numbers with gold dots for the five-minute marks, cast ormolu hands and is framed by an beaded ormolu edge to the outside and an engine turned ormolu ring to the inside.
The large time and strike eight-day movement has an outside countwheel, retains its original silk-thread suspension with the fast/slow out the dial and strikes on a bell.
Lyre clocks have been very popular beginning in the eighteenth century. The frames where created in several materials including bronze, marble and porcelain. It is rare to find an ormolu frame that deviates from the traditional designs as does the present example.
Height - 22.25 in.
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1760 French Ormolu Cartel Clock, Nepveu à Paris.
Inv. #P68
A large Louis XV French ormolu cartel clock by Nepveu à Paris. The lavishly adorned, well-cast and finished ormolu case has two putti amongst the C-scrolls, flower sprays and scrolling foliage. To the sides and front are set floral and engraved fabric backed frets.
The large one-piece porcelain dial with black lettering has a cast and molded glazed bezel, Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numbers for the five-minute marks, is signed by the maker, 'NEPVEU A PARIS', and has two well cast and engraved ormolu hands.
The large square time and strike eight-day movement has chamfered corners, a large star countwheel and a torsioned hammer that strikes a bell mounted above. The escapement had been updated and converted during the Victorian era and now has a Brocot style suspension that is regulated out the dial for Fast/Slow.
French cartel clocks were extremely popular during both the Louis XV and Louis XVI periods. The sizes ranged from very small time-only Boudoir pieces to large imposing examples such as this one.
Tardy's listings for Nepveu range from 1759-1830.
Height - 32 in.
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1825 French Ormolu Mantle Clock.
Inv. #P62
A wonderful Charles X ormolu mantle clock originally designed to celebrate the birth of the Duke of Bordeaux. It depicts a mother, the Duchess of Berry, seated in a chair nursing one child, the Duke of Bourdeaux while the other, his older sibling, recites a bedtime prayer. Other mounts include a detailed baby's crib, two doves nestled amongst scrolling clouds, rosettes and acanthus leaves. The top freeze depicts a seated nude with several feeding chickens and chicks while the freeze in the base depicts a scholar teaching the newborn child in different educational pursuits. The sides have dogs opening a box with a key; a symbol of fidelity. The whole sits upon four ormolu swans feeding cygnets.
The eight-day time and strike movement strikes the hours on a bell, has the fast/slow adjustment out the dial above the numeral twelve and still retains its original silk-thread suspension. The cast ormolu dial has well-lettered Roman numerals for the hours and steel-cut Breguet style hands.
The clock is a strong departure from earlier designs where tribute was often paid to classical themes and the Royal class was idolized. After the Revolution genre scenes in art became popular and instead of a more formal posed portrait they began capturing moments in everyday life including those of the aristocracy and very purposefully the surroundings in which they lived. A tribute to such an intimate moment in the daily pursuits of the Royal class would have been unheard of in earlier periods.
The Duke of Bordeaux, grandson of Charles X, was born in 1820. His father was assassinated before he was born and he was dubbed 'l'enfant du miracle'. His plight was the talk of France and although in line for the throne he was replaced by Louis Philippe as the Orleans branch of the monarchy gained favor. France became a Republic before he and his numerous supporters could regain the throne.
For similar examples see: 'French Bronze Clocks', pg.165 and 'La Pendule Francaise', pg. 429.
Height - 17.5 in.
Retail Price: On Request.
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c.1800 Animated French Ormolu, Patinated and White Marble Mantle Clock.
Inv. #P55
A
very rare early empire mantle clock that depicts Cupid sharpening
his arrow on an animated stone as the clock strikes each hour.
The architectural case has the clock in the center flanked by
ormolu river god mounts and stylized corner pilasters. The molded
white marble top and the D-shaped base are decorated with applied
ormolu mounts that include masks, acanthus leaves and reclining
lions and the whole is supported by five bun feet.
Above
is Cupid, god of love, carefully sharpening one of his magical arrows.
The ormolu figure with his wings outstretched, his bow slung over
his back and his quiver and a lose arrow at his feet leans over the
decorative grinding wheel. The marble wheel is supported within a
cast gadrooned patinated tub with four curved ormolu legs and two
well-cast satyr mounts.
The
finely lettered white porcelain dial has Arabic numbers for the hours,
15-minute marks and the 30-day calendar. Finely cast and finished
ormolu hands are for the hours and a straight steel cut hand is used
for the calendar.
The
eight-day time and strike movement still retains its original silk-thread
and strikes on a bell. A separate clockwork movement is wound and
manually activated out the side and is automatically activated by
the clock each hour for 12 daytime hours over two days. There is
an am/pm lever that allows the grinding wheel to spin between 9am
and 9pm each day. The clock still strikes through the night, but
without the benefit of the animation.
Although
French animated clocks were much more popular during the late 19
th century, windmills, mystery, conical, etc., earlier pieces are
extremely rare. There are few examples and the ones that enter the
market, such as the seesaw or merry-go-round models are always in
great demand. Condition, quality and the rarity of the animation
would make this a worthy addition to any collection.
Height - 23.5in.
Retail
Price: On Request |
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c.1795
Ormolu Frame Clock, Imbert a Paris.
Inv. #P25
A very nice quality Directoire ormolu frame clock by Imbert, a Paris. The
case has matching front and rear frames and is surmounted by an eagle. The
whole sits upon a white marble base with toupie feet. The finely lettered
white porcelain dial, complemented by nicely pierced and engraved hands,
has black numbers, a red calender chapter ring and is signed by the famous
dial enameler Coteau. The eight-day two-train movement strikes on a bell,
and has a 31-day calender and a silk-thread suspension with the fast/slow
adjustment out the front. It is a fine example of the Directoire period.
Height - 18.5in.
Retail Price: On Request. |
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c.1835 French Ormolu and Silver Patinated Mantle Clock.
Inv. #P47
A very nice French Charles X ormolu and silver patinated mantle clock depicting
a rider with two horses. The ormolu case has a cast bezel, floral mounts
and sits upon a heavily cast ormolu base with horse head profiles and
large decorative claw feet. The scene above is of two silver patinated
horses in mid-stride controlled by a single ormolu rider.
The silvered engine-turned dial has Roman numerals and Breguet style hands.
The eight-day time only movement strikes on a bell and still retains its
original silk-thread suspension.
Height - 23.5in.
Retail Price: On Request. |
