AN IMPRESSIVE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH GILT AND PATINATED BRONZE GLOBE CLOCK SET

AN IMPRESSIVE 19TH CENTURY FRENCH GILT AND PATINATED BRONZE GLOBE CLOCK SET

third quarter 19th century, Paris, Napoleon III period in the Louis XVI style, the clock case modelled as three patinated bronze cherubs, one with an easel to represent painting, another with a table for literature, centred by a palm tree, surmounted by a large gilt bronze terrestrial globe forming the clock case, inscribed with the names of the oceans and continents, the twelve piece blue enamel dial with Roman numerals, the hands cast as a serpent, the top of the globe lifting to reveal the twin barrel movement within, with outside countwheel striking on a bell, together with a pair of matching garniture candelabra, each formed as a standing putto holding aloft five acanthus wrapped branches centred by a sixth short branch, all with foliate drip pans and urn shaped nozzles, all on ornate oval bases with scroll feet,

the clock 67cm high, the candelabra 70cm high (3)

The design of this unusual and rare clock is derived from an 18th century design for a cercles tournants clock, one example of which is now in the Victoria and Albert Museum, illustrated, Tardy, French Clocks the World Over, Paris, 1981, p. 101.

Of exceptional quality but apparently unsigned, the present clock garniture must have been produced by one of the important Parisian bronziers of the day such as Henri Picard, Henry Dasson or Maison Marnyhac.