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Clock portico Monumental and highly unusual
| Materials: | Bronze mercury gilding |
|---|---|
| Era: | Napoléon III 1852 - 1870 (Second Empire) |
| Period: | XIXe siècle |
| Style: | Louis XVI |
| 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: 60 cm
Width: 38 cm
Depth: 18 cm
Description
This monumental portico clock constitutes a particularly remarkable creation of French decorative horology from the Napoléon III period, circa 1860, interpreting with great elegance the forms and ornamental vocabulary of the Louis XVI style. By virtue of its imposing scale, distinctive architecture and richness of decoration, it immediately stands apart from more conventional portico clock models. Its composition, at once powerful, architectural and remarkably refined, is based on a particularly original arrangement of four detached columns, creating an open and airy structure around the movement and the large pendulum. The refined combination of finely chased and gilded bronze, luminous Carrara marble, and the deep green marble base veined with white gives the whole an exceptional presence. The quality of the bronze work, the precision of the ornamentation and the harmony of the proportions testify to outstanding decorative craftsmanship. Of exceptionally high authenticity, this clock is furthermore preserved in an exceptional state of conservation, allowing its original richness and coherence to be fully appreciated.
The composition unfolds with remarkable richness from top to bottom. At the summit, a circular medallion depicting a female profile in the antique manner is set within an elegant pearl-beaded surround, framed by laurel foliage and surmounted by a magnificent bow of ribbons in gilded bronze. On either side, two charming winged putti, rendered in the round, appear to support and present this precious trophy. The cylindrical clock case is framed by delicate beaded mouldings and by two large vegetal scrolls in gilded bronze, which develop harmoniously around the dial. At their extremities, two small Carrara marble vases, topped with bouquets of flowers and foliage in gilded bronze, add a further touch of refinement. The circular enamel dial, with black Arabic numerals, is enhanced by a richly gilded border and fitted with delicate gilded-bronze hands. The architectural lower section is particularly spectacular: four elegant fluted columns in Carrara marble, adorned with gilded-bronze rods, foliage and ornamental motifs, rest on square plinths and support an imposing entablature. Beneath it unfold sumptuous garlands of flowers and foliage, suspended from large ribbon bows and enriched with finely sculpted vegetal drops. At the centre, suspended between the columns, is a large sunburst pendulum, adorned with a central solar face; its slow and regular oscillation before the columns brings the composition wonderfully to life and constitutes one of the most spectacular and distinctive features of this clock. The lower section presents a substantial Carrara marble platform, highlighted by rows of gilded-bronze beads and enriched with decorative panels bearing foliate scrolls, together with a superb central bas-relief depicting an animated scene of putti. The whole rests upon an imposing green marble base veined with white, with a shaped outline and supported by four circular gilded-bronze feet, giving the piece a particularly majestic foundation.
Through its monumental and highly unusual architecture, its remarkable balance between architectural restraint and profuse ornamentation, and the nobility of its materials, this clock is an especially compelling piece for a discerning collector. The dialogue between gilded bronze, Carrara marble and green marble veined with white creates a contrast of exceptional elegance, while the original arrangement of the four columns and the majestic sunburst pendulum give the whole a truly distinctive character. Its sculptural quality, the finesse of its ornamentation, the richness of its decoration and its exceptional state of preservation further enhance its appeal. Through its authenticity, rarity, monumental presence and beauty of composition, this clock stands as an exceptional work of French decorative art, destined to become a remarkable focal point in an interior of distinction.
The original mechanism is intact and unaltered. It strikes the hours and half-hours 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.
