Figural mantel clock - Antique Bronze, Brass - 1850-1900
05
days
19
hours
36
minutes
31
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Justus Heutink
Holds broad knowledge of religious icons with six years of collecting experience.
Estimate € 330 - € 380
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A figural mantel clock from circa 1850–1900, in ormolu gilded bronze and brass, antique style, French origin, with a mechanical movement and a 31-day power reserve, half-hour striking with one bell, measuring 50 × 30 × 15 cm and weighing 5 kg, in good used condition and in working order.
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Description from the seller
It is an ormolu clock of the kind born to live in a palatial salon, not on a humble shelf. The gilding in gold —deep, warm, almost liquid— envelops the entire piece with a radiance that only mercury gilding of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries could achieve: a light that does not reflect, but emanates from the metal.
The composition centers on an upper sculptural group, a seated figure representing a character from antiquity’s culture or politics: a sage, a legislator, perhaps a philosopher. The stance is serene, with the folds of the cloak cascading in soft waves, modeled with that precision that blends theatricality and classical balance. It is not an incidental figure: it is the symbol of reason, authority, and knowledge, a direct nod to the Enlightenment taste that permeated European decoration from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth centuries.
Below the figure opens the clock’s case, with its circular dial of Roman numerals, framed by an explosion of volutes, garlands, flowers, and shields that seem to grow from the gilded bronze itself. Everything is worked with meticulous craftsmanship that today is almost impossible to reproduce: every leaf, every curve, every relief has a clear aesthetic intention.
The mechanism, typical of French or Central European clockmaking of the period, works, but—as with all clocks of two centuries—requires periodic adjustments, lubrication, and a delicate tuning to maintain accuracy. It is not a clock to leave running unattended: it begs to be tended, like a small mechanical organism with memory.
Taken together, it is a piece that blends sculpture, jewelry, and clockmaking, an object that did not merely mark the time but proclaimed status, education, and taste. A clock not looked at to tell the hour, but to remind us that time can also be a work of art.
Certified shipping and good packaging.
Seller's Story
Vintage Shop SL is a prominent antique store that since 2010 has been committed to customer satisfaction and sustainability. This shop is not only a cultural treasure that preserves the history and heritage of our societies, but also strives to operate in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.
At Vintage Shop SL, we believe that customer service is essential to our success. Our highly trained team is dedicated to providing friendly, knowledgeable, and personalized service. We take pride in helping our customers find the perfect vintage pieces that fit their individual tastes and needs, ensuring their satisfaction and fostering lasting relationships.
But that's not all. At Vintage Shop SL, we also care about the sustainability of the business and its impact on the natural environment. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting responsible business practices.
On the one hand, we promote the circular economy and reuse by offering vintage items in excellent condition. By acquiring antiques at our shop, customers contribute to the conservation of natural resources by avoiding the production of new items and reducing the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and transportation.
Translated by Google TranslateIt is an ormolu clock of the kind born to live in a palatial salon, not on a humble shelf. The gilding in gold —deep, warm, almost liquid— envelops the entire piece with a radiance that only mercury gilding of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries could achieve: a light that does not reflect, but emanates from the metal.
The composition centers on an upper sculptural group, a seated figure representing a character from antiquity’s culture or politics: a sage, a legislator, perhaps a philosopher. The stance is serene, with the folds of the cloak cascading in soft waves, modeled with that precision that blends theatricality and classical balance. It is not an incidental figure: it is the symbol of reason, authority, and knowledge, a direct nod to the Enlightenment taste that permeated European decoration from the late eighteenth to the early nineteenth centuries.
Below the figure opens the clock’s case, with its circular dial of Roman numerals, framed by an explosion of volutes, garlands, flowers, and shields that seem to grow from the gilded bronze itself. Everything is worked with meticulous craftsmanship that today is almost impossible to reproduce: every leaf, every curve, every relief has a clear aesthetic intention.
The mechanism, typical of French or Central European clockmaking of the period, works, but—as with all clocks of two centuries—requires periodic adjustments, lubrication, and a delicate tuning to maintain accuracy. It is not a clock to leave running unattended: it begs to be tended, like a small mechanical organism with memory.
Taken together, it is a piece that blends sculpture, jewelry, and clockmaking, an object that did not merely mark the time but proclaimed status, education, and taste. A clock not looked at to tell the hour, but to remind us that time can also be a work of art.
Certified shipping and good packaging.
Seller's Story
Vintage Shop SL is a prominent antique store that since 2010 has been committed to customer satisfaction and sustainability. This shop is not only a cultural treasure that preserves the history and heritage of our societies, but also strives to operate in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner.
At Vintage Shop SL, we believe that customer service is essential to our success. Our highly trained team is dedicated to providing friendly, knowledgeable, and personalized service. We take pride in helping our customers find the perfect vintage pieces that fit their individual tastes and needs, ensuring their satisfaction and fostering lasting relationships.
But that's not all. At Vintage Shop SL, we also care about the sustainability of the business and its impact on the natural environment. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting responsible business practices.
On the one hand, we promote the circular economy and reuse by offering vintage items in excellent condition. By acquiring antiques at our shop, customers contribute to the conservation of natural resources by avoiding the production of new items and reducing the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and transportation.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Era
1400-1900
Clock type
Figural mantel clock
Material
Brass, Bronze
Clock mechanism
Mechanical
Power reserve
31 day movement
Striking
half hour, one bell
Style
Antique
Country of origin
France
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of ageing
In working order
Yes
Height
50 cm
Width
30 cm
Depth
15 cm
Estimated period
1850-1900
Weight
5 kg
Winding key
No
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