19th Century French Ormolu and Bronze Mantel Clock

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19th Century French Ormolu and Bronze Mantel Clock

About the Item

This is a fabulous ormolu, bronze and Siena marble mantel clock circa 1850 in date. This beautiful clock features an ormolu figure dressed in a Renaissance costume wearing a laurel wreath, casually sitting on a bronze rock with an inset Roman numerals clock face. The stepped Siena marble base is divided by a large ormolu border decorated with scrolling cartouche cresting, acanthus leaves and interlocking shells and raised on acanthus scroll feet. It has a French 8 day striking movement that bears the serial No. 81499. This is a marvelous quality clock which will look amazing on your mantel piece. Condition: In excellent condition having been fully restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Restoration: Movement dismantled and all parts examined and tested. All detents and pivots re-ground and polished. Bearings supplied and fitted. All steel and brass components cleaned, buffed and burnished. Escapement dismantled, cleaned, synchronised and set. Movement regulated. Case cleaned and polished. Dimensions in cm: Height 60 x width 40 x depth 22 Dimensions in inches: Height 23.6 x width 15.7 x depth 8.7 Ormolu - (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'. The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object. No true ormolu was produced in France after around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury. Therefore, other techniques were used instead but nothing surpasses the original mercury-firing ormolu method for sheer beauty and richness of color. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt (also known as vermeil). 16th century fashion for men was just as elaborate as any other century. Hats were mandatory and a man could face a fine if seen without one. Materials included cotton, velvet and satin. It was mostly flannel for lower class men. White shirts were billowy with long puffy sleeves. Worn over the shirts was the doublet, a fancy type of vest that was usually tied on both the front and sometimes the back man. The doublet came in all kinds of rich patterns and came to define the Renaissance man. Lower class men wore a type of trousers called trews that were loose fitting. Upper class men wore puffy breeches, sometimes called Venetian breeches. 16th century fashion for men also saw the use of the trunkhouse which were puffy-like breeches with slits revealing contrasting colors. These types of breeches would be toned down in later centuries, but would come to the standard of a man’s wardrobe for the next few centuries. Men wore hose at this time, often made of wool, but sometimes silk for men who could afford it. Both short and long boots were available, but regular shoes made of leather were also an option. It was also popular in the 16th century fashion period for men to wear capes which was also a nice accessory that usually stopped around the back of the waist and sometimes sported over one shoulder.

Dimensions:
Height: 23.63 in (60 cm)Width: 15.75 in (40 cm)Depth: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Marble,Ormolu
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1850-1859
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1850
Condition:
Seller Location:
London, GB
Reference Number:
Seller: 076551stDibs: LU95069430743