What defines a French 19th-century ormolu and porcelain mantel clock?

These timepieces combine cast gilt bronze cases with hand-painted porcelain panels, popularised in France during the 18th and 19th centuries under Louis XVI and Second Empire stylistic influences.

What materials are traditionally used in Sevres-style mantel clocks?

They typically feature gilt bronze (ormolu) alongside hand-painted soft or hard-paste porcelain plaques with turquoise or celeste blue ground colours and enamel dial faces.

How can you identify authentic antique French porcelain clocks?

Authentic examples feature chased gilt bronze mounts, maker marks or movement serial numbers stamped into the backplate, and hand-painted porcelain decoration rather than modern transfer prints.

How do you style a classic French ormolu clock in modern interiors?

Position the clock as a focal piece atop a fireplace mantelpiece, marble console table, or dark wood sideboard paired with understated contemporary accents to balance the detailed metalwork.

How should gilt bronze and antique porcelain clocks be maintained?

Dust regularly with a dry microfibre cloth or soft brush, avoiding liquid cleansers or abrasive polishes that can strip the gilding or damage painted porcelain glaze.

for sale €8,132 $8,827

£6,950

Dragon-Antiques.com

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2007

View Dealers Stock Page

Relevant Links

French Chiming Clock

Cherub Figurine Clock

Antique Porcelain Clock

Id #SA1115825

PDF

SAVE

Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

Name: Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1115825
Price: 6950 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by Dragon-Antiques.com

Description

~ French - Circa 1855 ~

~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~

A superb, large and early Ormolu clock, mounted with exquisite Sèvres style porcelain with a Bleu Celeste ground and fine overglaze gilt decoration. The richly chased foliate case is formed of mercury fire gilded Bronze Doré, to the top, beautifully modelled cherubs sit in the clouds with doves to their sides.

The large porcelain panel below the dial is exquisitely painted with a scene of Amor. He is seated in a nest of ribbons and has just released a bird from a cage**. To the sides and below the large panel are panels of fine floral swags and two portraits of Marie Antoinette. Beautiful curved side panels are delicately painted with exotic birds. The large dial is porcelain enamel on copper with original Breguet hands. The clock is complete with its original gesso base.

The French movement is of superb quality and is by Achille Brocot & Delettrez. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is an old replacement. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. We have a video of the clock, please ask and we will send you a link or paste the following into your browser: https://www.facebook.com/DragonAntiques/videos/1001068572063262

Condition of the case is excellent, the original gilding is beautifully clean and bright with some slight wear in places, particularly the rear (where less gold was originally applied) and where the clock has been held for winding. Porcelain is also excellent with just some slight wear to the overglaze gilt decoration. The dial is good with a chip to the right-hand winding hole. Gesso base is very good, some wear to the gilding. We have recovered the base with fresh fabric.

Achille Brocot was a member of the renowned Brocot clockmaking family, the eldest son of Louis Gabriel Brocot. He was treasurer to La Société des Horlogers in Paris and was awarded First Class Medal at the 1855 Paris Exhibition - Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers.

Jean-Baptiste Delettrez (1816-1887) was a renowned 19th-century French clockmaker. He is listed as working in Tardy Dictionnaire des Horlogers at Rue de Berry au Marais in 1850.

Delettrez and Achille Brocot, established a clockmaking company at 62 Rue Charlot in Paris in 1851 (Tardy). The firm was awarded a 1st class prize at the Paris World Exposition of 1857. This innovative and fruitful partnership continued until the death of Brocot in 1878.

This clock is signed for the retailer J Mayer who is listed in Tardy as working from Rue Montmartre in 1860.

Achille Brocot Delettrez mark on the bezel and dial backplate

J. Mayer, Parisian retailer's mark on the movement backplate and dial

**According to mythology he himself hatched from an egg and therefore is the creator of birds..."it is certain that we are fathered by Eros: just like himself we like to fly and seek the company of lovers" Aristophanes, The Birds, V 697-705).

Complete with pendulum, bell and key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.

Dimensions of clock (overall including the base):

inches: Height 21 1/2", Width 19", Depth 7 1/2"

centimetres: Height 52 cm, Width 48.5 cm, Depth 19 cm

Shipping within UK £30

Shipping to USA / Europe £150 by air fully insured

World wide shipping - £250 by air fully insured

Physical Dimensions

Height

52cm (20.47")

Width

48.5cm (19.09")

Depth

19cm (7.48")

Declaration

Dragon-Antiques.com has dated this Ormolu Sevres Porcelain Clock to the 1860s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1115825

Dealers Internal Reference

RSC3751

Dealers Notes

Email Julie now to reserve this item! .

BITCOIN - we now accept - please ask and we will send you a coinbase invoice

Phone number - please includes as many email accounts such as hotmail etc automatically junk replies.

Buy now with the Paypal button, even if you dont have a Paypal account! All other payment methods accepted, please see our website for more details or phone Julie now!

World wide shipping by air fully insured. Please see our website for more pictures and video - http://www.Dragon-Antiques.com

Description

~ French - Circa 1855 ~

~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~

“

A superb, large and early Ormolu clock, mounted with exquisite Sèvres style porcelain with a Bleu Celeste ground and fine overglaze gilt decoration.

Dragon-Antiques.com

The richly chased foliate case is formed of mercury fire gilded Bronze Doré, to the top, beautifully modelled cherubs sit in the clouds with doves to their sides.

fig 1. A French gilt bronze and celeste blue porcelain mantel clock topped with two gilded cherub figures and hand-painted floral panels surrounding a white enamel dial. — fig 1. Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

The large porcelain panel below the dial is exquisitely painted with a scene of Amor. He is seated in a nest of ribbons and has just released a bird from a cage**. To the sides and below the large panel are panels of fine floral swags and two portraits of Marie Antoinette. Beautiful curved side panels are delicately painted with exotic birds. The large dial is porcelain enamel on copper with original Breguet hands. The clock is complete with its original gesso base.

fig 2. A French gilt bronze and celeste blue porcelain mantel clock topped with two gilded cherub figures and hand-painted floral panels surrounding a white enamel dial. — fig 2. Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

The French movement is of superb quality and is by Achille Brocot & Delettrez. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is an old replacement. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. We have a video of the clock, please ask and we will send you a link or paste the following into your browser: https://www.facebook.com/DragonAntiques/videos/1001068572063262

fig 3. A French gilt bronze and celeste blue porcelain mantel clock topped with two gilded cherub figures and hand-painted floral panels surrounding a white enamel dial. — fig 3. Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

Condition of the case is excellent, the original gilding is beautifully clean and bright with some slight wear in places, particularly the rear (where less gold was originally applied) and where the clock has been held for winding. Porcelain is also excellent with just some slight wear to the overglaze gilt decoration. The dial is good with a chip to the right-hand winding hole. Gesso base is very good, some wear to the gilding. We have recovered the base with fresh fabric.

fig 4. A French gilt bronze and celeste blue porcelain mantel clock topped with two gilded cherub figures and hand-painted floral panels surrounding a white enamel dial. — fig 4. Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

Achille Brocot was a member of the renowned Brocot clockmaking family, the eldest son of Louis Gabriel Brocot. He was treasurer to La Société des Horlogers in Paris and was awarded First Class Medal at the 1855 Paris Exhibition - Tardy, Dictionnaire des Horlogers.

fig 5. A French gilt bronze and celeste blue porcelain mantel clock topped with two gilded cherub figures and hand-painted floral panels surrounding a white enamel dial. — fig 5. Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

Jean-Baptiste Delettrez (1816-1887) was a renowned 19th-century French clockmaker. He is listed as working in Tardy Dictionnaire des Horlogers at Rue de Berry au Marais in 1850.

Delettrez and Achille Brocot, established a clockmaking company at 62 Rue Charlot in Paris in 1851 (Tardy). The firm was awarded a 1st class prize at the Paris World Exposition of 1857. This innovative and fruitful partnership continued until the death of Brocot in 1878.

fig 6. A French gilt bronze and celeste blue porcelain mantel clock topped with two gilded cherub figures and hand-painted floral panels surrounding a white enamel dial. — fig 6. Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

This clock is signed for the retailer J Mayer who is listed in Tardy as working from Rue Montmartre in 1860.

Achille Brocot Delettrez mark on the bezel and dial backplate

J. Mayer, Parisian retailer's mark on the movement backplate and dial

fig 7. A French gilt bronze and celeste blue porcelain mantel clock topped with two gilded cherub figures and hand-painted floral panels surrounding a white enamel dial. — fig 7. Fine Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock by Achille Brocot & Delettrez

According to mythology he himself hatched from an egg and therefore is the creator of birds..."it is certain that we are fathered by Eros: just like himself we like to fly and seek the company of lovers" Aristophanes, The Birds, V 697-705).