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ID #SA1108108
FOR SALE
£3,300
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A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.
For sale by FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks
for sale €3,861     $4,191
£3,300

FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2010
Browse dealers 16 items
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Id #SA1108108
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A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

19th century
Description

A fine quality ormolu Mounted white Carrara marble striking lyre mantel clock, circa 1890, retailed by Howell and James, maker to the Queen, London and Paris.

A highly decorative clock with a swinging paste set ring surrounding the convex dial, which mirrors the swing of the pendulum.

The extremely fine quality white Carrara marble case in perfect original condition, surmounted by a sun burst finial with applied swag floral ormolu mounts. The oval base with gilded inset mounts and standing on four turned and decorated feet.

The decorative grid iron and paste set pendulum free swinging on the outer edge of the dial with spring suspension and unusual, for this type of clock, rise and fall mechanism.

The convex enamel dial with Arabic numerals and floral decoration signed to the centre Howell and James, maker to the Queen, London and Paris, in excellent original condition.

The fully restored twin train spring driven movement striking the hours and half hour on a bell, numbered 42.

This beautiful quality clock is in excellent original condition with no damage to the marble and the original gilding to the mounts.

A fine quality clock in excellent original condition with the movement fully restored.

All of our clocks have been sympathetically restored and have been expertly vetted for originality and good working order. All clocks purchased from us are guaranteed for two years.

All of our clock movements are restored by our horologist who works exclusively for us.

Our horologist is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute (FBHI), having 35 years of full time professional engagement in the repair & restoration of clocks, watches, music boxes & barometers. He was the recipient of the 1977 Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Bronze Medal.

Please contact us for a UK delivery price.

For overseas customers a fully insured door to door service is provided by our regular couriers, please contact us for a specific quotation.

All of our clocks are securely packed and comprehensive installation and maintenance instructions are included.

For more information please visit our website

www.storyclocks.co.uk

Date of Manufacture

FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks has dated this French Lyre Mantel Clock to the 1890s.

Independent Date Check ID 08756756
Dealer's Item Date1890s
Sellingantiques Date1890s
Sellingantiques agingItem 125-150 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1890s:
Retailer signature on dial: Howell and James held Queen Victoria's royal warrant.
Crisp chasing on gilt mounts: fine bronze finishing from late nineteenth-century Paris workshops.
Paste-set swinging pendulum ring: fashionable novelty feature favoured in late Victorian interiors.
Spotted darkening on rear brass plates: decades of gradual natural oxidisation.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions
Height
51cm (20.08")
Width
24cm (9.45")
Depth
14cm (5.51")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1108108
Dealers Internal Reference
Whitelyre
Description
A fine quality ormolu Mounted white Carrara marble striking lyre mantel clock, circa 1890, retailed by Howell and James, maker to the Queen, London and Paris.
“
A highly decorative clock with a swinging paste set ring surrounding the convex dial, which mirrors the swing of the pendulum.
FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks
fig 1. A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
fig 1. A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

The extremely fine quality white Carrara marble case in perfect original condition, surmounted by a sun burst finial with applied swag floral ormolu mounts. The oval base with gilded inset mounts and standing on four turned and decorated feet.

fig 2. A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
fig 2. A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

The decorative grid iron and paste set pendulum free swinging on the outer edge of the dial with spring suspension and unusual, for this type of clock, rise and fall mechanism.

The convex enamel dial with Arabic numerals and floral decoration signed to the centre Howell and James, maker to the Queen, London and Paris, in excellent original condition.

fig 3. A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
fig 3. A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

The fully restored twin train spring driven movement striking the hours and half hour on a bell, numbered 42.

This beautiful quality clock is in excellent original condition with no damage to the marble and the original gilding to the mounts.

fig 4. A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
fig 4. A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

A fine quality clock in excellent original condition with the movement fully restored.

All of our clocks have been sympathetically restored and have been expertly vetted for originality and good working order. All clocks purchased from us are guaranteed for two years.

fig 5. A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
fig 5. A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

All of our clock movements are restored by our horologist who works exclusively for us.

Our horologist is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute (FBHI), having 35 years of full time professional engagement in the repair & restoration of clocks, watches, music boxes & barometers. He was the recipient of the 1977 Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Bronze Medal.

fig 6. A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
fig 6. A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

Please contact us for a UK delivery price.

For overseas customers a fully insured door to door service is provided by our regular couriers, please contact us for a specific quotation.

All of our clocks are securely packed and comprehensive installation and maintenance instructions are included.

For more information please visit our website

www.storyclocks.co.uk

Date of Manufacture

FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks has dated this French Lyre Mantel Clock to the 1890s.

Independent Date Report ID 08756756
Dealer's Item Date1890s
Sellingantiques dating1890s
Sellingantiques agingItem 125-150 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1890s:
Retailer signature on dial: Howell and James held Queen Victoria's royal warrant.
Crisp chasing on gilt mounts: fine bronze finishing from late nineteenth-century Paris workshops.
Paste-set swinging pendulum ring: fashionable novelty feature favoured in late Victorian interiors.
Spotted darkening on rear brass plates: decades of gradual natural oxidisation.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
51cm (20.08")
Width
24cm (9.45")
Depth
14cm (5.51")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1108108
Dealers Internal Ref
Whitelyre
FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks
Sellingantiques verified Since Oct 2010
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks Profile Page

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A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
1 / 9
Archive I A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.

A French Marble and Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.

Archive II A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel. View II
Archive III A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel. View III
Archive IV Scale Reference for A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
Archive V A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel. View V
Archive VI A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel. View VI
Archive VII A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel. View VII
Archive VIII A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel. View VIII
Archive IX A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel. View IX
Enlarged Archival View

FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks
Telephone 07899 751 446 or 01709 589 736
Location
The Old Vicarage
Highthorn Road
Kilnhurst
South Yorkshire
S64 5TX
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/story
Verified Since Oct 2010
Items For Sale 16
Items Sold 302
FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks
Verified Since Oct 2010
View Dealer Info
Location: The Old Vicarage, Highthorn Road, Kilnhurst, South Yorkshire, S64 5TX, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/story
Verified
Oct 2010
For Sale
16
Sold
302
A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
A French Marble And Ormolu Mount Lyre Mystery Mantel Clock.
Ref: SA1108108
A Louis XVI style white marble and gilt bronze lyre-shaped mantel clock topped with a sunburst Apollo head mask and featuring a crystal-encrusted dial bezel.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
Detail View 6
Detail View 7
Scale Reference
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectMantel Clock
  • Period19th century
  • StyleLouis XVI
  • MaterialMarble, Ormolu, Enamel, Glass
  • ColourWhite, Gold
  • MotifsLyre frame, Apollo sunburst, Floral swags, Rhinestone bezel
  • SizeH 51 cm (20 in) x W 24 cm (9 in) x D 14 cm (6 in)

A French Louis XVI style marble and ormolu mount lyre mystery mantel clock, dating from 1890, stands on an oval base with four turned and decorated feet. The white Carrara marble case holds a convex enamel dial with Arabic numerals, floral decoration, and a swinging rhinestone bezel, surmounted by a sunburst Apollo head mask and applied ormolu floral swags. The gilding remains on the mounts, and the fully restored twin train spring driven movement strikes the hours and half hour on a bell. The whole piece measures 51 cm high, 24 cm wide, and 14 cm deep. Place this timepiece upon a mantelpiece in a drawing room or study to provide a functional and decorative focal point. The design incorporates a gridiron pendulum swinging on the outer edge of the dial, paired with brass hands and winding arbours. It sits level on small bun feet, bringing an element of traditional horology and French chateau style to an interior scheme.

FAQs

A lyre clock is a style of timepiece designed in the architectural shape of a classical lyre instrument, prominent in late 18th-century France during the Louis XVI and Neoclassical periods. The design often incorporates a central dial framed by decorative uprights and surmounted by a sunburst mask or cresting.

These clocks typically feature carved statuary marble, alabaster, or cobalt blue porcelain bases paired with gilt bronze (ormolu) mounts. Dials are generally white enamel with hand-painted numerals, surrounded by beaded or rhinestone-set bezels.

Authentic period pieces exhibit heavy hand-chased gilt bronze mounts, fire-gilding wear, fine enamel dial artistry, and movement plates stamped with French maker marks or Paris exhibition awards. Construction details include hand-cut thread screws and solid marble components.

A lyre clock works best as a central focal point on a marble fireplace mantel, a library bookcase shelf, or an entryway console table. Placing it alongside subtle neutral ceramics or mirrored backdrops allows the ornate gilt bronze and marble details to stand out.

Dust ormolu mounts gently with a dry, soft brush, avoiding chemical liquid polishes that strip original gilding. Marble surfaces can be wiped with a damp cloth and mild soap, while mechanical clock movements require periodic oiling and professional horological servicing every few years.
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