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Clock Floating skeleton 1870
| Materials: | Gilt bronze |
|---|---|
| Era: | Napoléon III 1852 - 1870 (Second Empire) |
| Period: | XIXe siècle |
| Provenance: | French |
- Restored to original condition with original appearance.
- Full overhaul of watch movement, perfect working order.
- Perfect authenticity, without modification.
- Original gilding.
- Winding key & pendulum
- Operating instructions, how to start your clock.
- Certificate of authenticity, invoice.
- Ringtone on ancient bell, hour and a half-hour
Height: 49 cm
Width: 25 cm
Depth: 19 cm
Description
Exceptional Piece: When Time Becomes Spectacle, what you see is a 19th-century Parisian haute horlogerie clock, signed Fernbach and Ferasson in Paris, whose distinctive feature lies in a spectacular mechanism: the suspended skeleton dial combined with a system of "floating" hands.
In this clock, the transmission of power from the skeleton mechanism to the hands is not achieved solely through a conventional rigid axle, but by a rarer and more spectacular device: a chain with fine links, connecting the gear train's output (at the level of the minute hand) to the center of the suspended dial. By winding around small pinions or drums, it transmits the rotation with precision while allowing for a spatial offset between the mechanism and the hands. Crucially, this chain not only transmits the movement but also supports the hands, thus creating a dynamic support. This block is equipped with a pear-shaped counterweight, which serves a dual purpose: to maintain constant tension on the chain to ensure smooth transmission, and to allow for fine adjustment of the parallelism of all the hands relative to the plane of the suspended dial. Thanks to this subtle balance between tension, weight, and guidance, the system guarantees both mechanical precision and visual illusion, the hands appearing to float freely while remaining perfectly stable and aligned.
The mechanism itself is a skeletonized movement with exposed wheels, where the bridges are cut away to reveal the gear trains. The mainspring barrel (energy source), the gear train (transmission), and the escapement (regulation), here paired with a precision balance wheel, are clearly visible.
Finally, the entire piece is based on an aesthetic logic typical of French decorative watchmaking: combining mechanical virtuosity with visual illusion. The detached dial and floating hands contribute to this theatrical effect, where time seems literally suspended in mid-air, yet remains rigorously controlled by a precision mechanism elegantly concealed.
This gilt-bronze cage clock is distinguished by its completely open architecture, showcasing both the internal mechanics and the decorative elements. The frame features a slender rectangular structure, resting on a molded base with sharply projecting corners, enlivened by powerful acanthus scrolls in relief, which lend the whole a stable yet deeply ornamented presence. These finely chiseled vegetal brackets curl into volutes and frame radiating rosettes.
The case is entirely glazed, composed of thick, beveled glass panels whose polished edges capture and diffract the light, accentuating the preciousness of the gilt bronze. This complete transparency allows for a full view of the mechanism and the pendulum. Access to the mechanism is provided by two large doors, one on the front and the other on the back, each mounted on discreet hinges and seamlessly integrated into the gilded frame. This double opening reflects both a functional design—for maintenance and winding—and an aesthetic one, offering a clear view of the inner workings.
The crowning element is a key decorative feature: a finely sculpted trophy composed of a cluster of intertwined symbolic objects—flaming torches, arrows, quivers, foliage, and knotted ribbons—forming a dynamic and asymmetrical composition.
Ultimately, this clock, signed Fernbach and Ferasson, brilliantly embodies the excellence of 19th-century Parisian haute horlogerie. A true masterpiece of ingenuity and refinement, it transcends its primary function to become a work of art in its own right. The masterful combination of technical prowess—illustrated by its fascinating system of floating hands—and ornamental richness makes this a piece as captivating as it is rare.
Its open architecture, enhanced by the gilded bronze and the transparency of the beveled glass, offers a continuous horological spectacle, where each movement reveals the exceptional precision and expertise of its creators. More than a timekeeping instrument, this clock is a signature, a symbol of prestige and distinction.
Acquiring such a piece is to own a fragment of history, a dazzling demonstration of French mechanical art, and a timeless presence that will never fail to inspire admiration and fascination.
The hour and half-hour chimes are played on an antique bell, with a clear and authentic sound.
Questions
Easily pay for your purchases using our highly protected bank card system with SSL certificate and 256 bit encryption, ensuring confidentiality when any information is transferred. On a web browser, the OVH SSL certificate activates the HTTPS protocol and displays a padlock in the navigation bar. This shows that any transaction is encrypted and confidential, and that your website address has been authenticated.
Our items mainly stem from the inheritance of objects, preciously looked after over numerous generations. There is a stringent selection process for each object ensuring perfect authenticity and the optimal amount of gilding
We do not use the term “Restoration”, which implies a significant transformation or major repair that modifies an object’s authenticity or original appearance. Each object is completely dismantled, then thoroughly cleaned part by part; our cleaning technique restores shine without adversely affecting the gold. We then put the clock back together, returning all the various parts to their origin location, as well as all the nuts and screws. Subsequently, the item is inspected to ensure it is perfectly even, symmetrical, and smooth, etc.
The clock’s movement undergoes a complete overhaul; it is totally dismantled, cleaned and each individual part is polished. The duration of this procedure affects the shine: we prefer to obtain a brilliant shine, in keeping with the gilding of the object. To increase the strength and quality of the gears, we apply a very important procedure, known as bouchonnage, to correct for wear accumulated over years of operation, consisting in the placing cork of stoppers in any pivot holes that have become deformed by wear. After the clock has been completely reassembled, it is tested over a long period of time to ensure that the movement, as well as the hour and half-hour strikes, are operating correctly.
- Akzeptierte Kreditkarten: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover und Diners Club.
- Bank transfer: You can also send us a copy of the bank transfer order to speed up the processing of your order.
Upon dispatch of your order, you will be sent a parcel tracking number by email.
Delivery anywhere in the world.
France: - Clocks: 3 days preparation work + 2 days for delivery - Total: 5 business days - Decorative objects: 1 days preparation work + 2 days for delivery - Total: 3 business days
Europe - Clocks: 3 days preparation work + 3 days for delivery - Total: 6 business days - Decorative objects: 1 day preparation work + 3 days for delivery - Total: 6 business days
Other countries - Clocks: 3 days preparation work + 3-8 days for delivery - Decorative objects: 1 days preparation work + 3-8 days for delivery
Easily pay for your purchases using our highly protected bank card system with SSL certificate and 256 bit encryption, ensuring confidentiality when any information is transferred. On a web browser, the OVH SSL certificate activates the HTTPS protocol and displays a padlock in the navigation bar. This shows that any transaction is encrypted and confidential, and that your website address has been authenticated.
You will receive—by email and a paper version—an explanatory document containing all the necessary instructions and recommendations for operating your clock. We also provide assistance over the phone to guide you through the start-up procedure. Of course, we will continue to be available—by both telephone and email—to answer any questions you may have. For calls in German or English, please make an appointment first via email, providing us with your telephone number, and the date and time you wish to contact us. Contact.
- Click on the button “add to basket” to add an object. - Once you have finished your order, click on “view contents of basket” located at the bottom of the screen or on small the “shopping trolley” icon at the top right. - click “Complete my order” or “order” - Fill in the invoicing address details, you also have the possibility to send the parcel to a different address. - Select the payment method - To confirm your order, click “order now”
By email, you will be sent: - confirmation of your order & payment - Parcel tracking information
Every purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity and an invoice
High quality certificate of authenticity printed on photo paper with text and photos providing all the information concerning your object. Detailed invoice indicating the price paid for the object.
