Dragon-Antiques.com has dated this piece to the 1880s.
~ French - Circa 1880 ~
~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~
A very large and fine antique French clock set. It is of Rococo design in the manner of Juste Aurele Meissonier and boldly modelled in gilt bronze.
To the top is a putti and to the front is a motif of flaming torch and quiver of arrows, symbolic of cupid. To the sides, are cloth backed sound frets. Candelabra are beautifully formed as acanthus wrapped stems, with swirling acanthus arms and fluted tulip-form nozzles. The design is beautifully bold, well chased and finished. It is modelled in the round and so would display very well on a table.
The large dial is also gilt bronze with 12 individual enamel cartouches and original finely fretted blued steel hands. The Rococo bezel is fitted with convex glass. A reflection of the pendulum swinging can be seen in the polished base.
Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier
The form of these candelabra is based on designs by the highly inventive and influential rococo goldsmith and architect Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier (1695-1750). Born in Turin, Meissonnier emigrated to France to work in the royal Gobelins factory in 1724 and in 1726 succeeded Jean II Bérain as architect and draughtsman to the Chambre et Cabinet du Roi. His designs for candelabra and other objects appear in the Dousieme livre des Oeuvres de J. A. Messonnier, Livre de Chandeliers de Sculpture en Argent published by Gabriel Huquier in the 1740s. A similar candelabrum in the Munich Residenz is illustrated in Ottomeyer and Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen (Munich 1986), Vol. I, p.105 fig.2.I.9.
The French movement is of high quality and is by Samuel Marti. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is a replacement. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. We have a video available of the clock running, please ask and we will send you a link.
Condition of the case is excellent, beautifully clean and bright with hardly any wear or discolouration and there are no losses. The dial is also in excellent condition; just some cracking to the number eleven cartouche. We have refreshed the red cloth of the sound frets.
Samuel Marti clockmaker's mark on the movement back plate along with the retailers mark
Complete with pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.
Dimensions of clock:
inches: Height 16 1/2", Width 11 3/4", Depth 6 3/4"
centimetres: Height 42 cm, Width 30 cm, Depth 17 cm
Dimensions of candelabra:
inches: Height 19", Width 10 1/2", Depth 10 1/2"
centimetres: Height 48 cm, Width 27 cm, Depth 27 cm
Shipping within UK £35
Shipping to USA / Europe £150 by air fully insured
World wide shipping - £195 by air fully insured
Dragon-Antiques.com has dated this piece to the 1880s.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Dragon-Antiques.com Profile Page
Magnificent Antique French Rococo Clock Set ~ After Meissonnier
