Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 7

Antique French Gilt Bronze, Marble and Tole Revolving Dial Clock

About the Item

This exquisite mantel clock was designed in the 19th century in France, inspired by an earlier model by François Vion, a famous Parisian metalworker of the 18th century. In this design, as in Vion’s, the Three Graces are depicted holding up a spherical clock with a revolving, or ‘cercle tournant’, dial. Vion’s clock was an innovative piece of decorative art, and it is now permanently on display at the Louvre museum in Paris. This clock stands on a shaped, triangular base, which has been crafted from white marble, set on gilt bronze toupie feet. The base is decorated with scrolling, gilt bronze mounts and beading. The Three Graces — the classical personifications of youth and beauty, merriment and elegance — stand on this platform, and together hold up the spherical clock. The Graces are pictured as beautiful, young women, seen in the nude. They also hold heavy flower garlands in their hands, which hang in between them, and loop around their waists, linking the three figures together. The clock above them has been crafted from tole, painted dark blue and mounted with floral gilt bronze motifs. The revolving white enamel dial features Roman Numerals and Arabic numbers. Sitting on top of the clock is a gilt bronze winged cherub, possibly Cupid himself, the god of erotic love. This clock is not only a wonderful piece of design — with its clever ‘cercle tournant’ dial — it is also an exquisite piece of decorative art, displaying gilt bronze sculpture of the highest quality.
  • Similar to:
    Francois Vion (Metalworker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 24.81 in (63 cm)Width: 10.63 in (27 cm)Depth: 10.63 in (27 cm)
  • Style:
    Neoclassical (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    19th Century
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 154201stDibs: LU956312542671
More From This SellerView All
  • Gilt Bronze Mounted Porphyry Revolving Dial Mantel Clock
    Located in London, GB
    This beautiful neoclassical style mantel clock, created from porphyry mounted with silvered and gilt bronze, is formed in the shape of a vase. The movement of the clock is of the cer...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Porphyry, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

  • Antique Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Sevin and Barbedienne
    By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Louis-Constant Sevin
    Located in London, GB
    This ormolu clock is an exemplary work by the famous French 19th century metalworker and foundry-owner, Ferdiand Barbedienne. Working with a design made by the acclaimed onamentalist, Louis-Constant...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Ormolu, Bronze

  • Large Gilt, Patinated Bronze and Marble Clock Set by Raingo Frères
    By Raingo Frères
    Located in London, GB
    Large gilt, patinated bronze and marble clock set by Raingo Frères French, Late 19th Century Clock: height 73cm, width 29cm, depth 28cm Candelabra: height 66cm, width 30cm, depth ...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century French Neoclassical Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze, Ormolu

  • Antique French Gilt Bronze and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock after Falconet
    By Étienne Maurice Falconet
    Located in London, GB
    French sculptor Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791) is the inspiration for this beautiful, sumptuous mantel clock. His clock, crafted in the late 18th Century and now on display at the Louvre Museum, caused such a stir when it was exhibited over 100 years later, at the Great Exhibition in Paris in 1900 that one reviewer claimed that it "attracted so much admiration from the crowds gathered around that the pressure was sufficient at times to endanger its safety." As well as this famed 'Three Graces...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu, Bronze

  • Ormolu, White Marble and Tole Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock by Lepaute
    By Lepaute, Francois Vion
    Located in London, GB
    This exceptional mantel clock was created in the early 20th century in France, inspired by an 18th century model by the famous metalworker, François Vion (French, 1737-1790). The clock’s design includes sculptures of the Three Graces holding up a spherical clock with a revolving, or ‘cercle tournant...
    Category

    Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze, Ormolu, Tôle

  • Antique Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock and Barometer Set
    By John Barwise
    Located in London, GB
    Antique marble and gilt bronze clock and barometer set English, 19th Century Height 49cm, width 20cm, depth 12cm This exquisite set of gilt b...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century English Neoclassical Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Marble, Enamel, Ormolu

You May Also Like
  • French Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock Set
    Located in Hollywood, SC
    French gilt bronze and marble three piece mantel clock flanked by matching candelabras. Center clock has cherub, griffon, and floral fruit motif...
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Clocks

    Materials

    Bronze

  • Antique French Empire Neoclassical Gilt Bronze Figural Clock
    Located in New York, NY
    An Exquisite Antique French Period Empire Neoclassical gilt bronze figural clock embellished with figure of a neoclassical woman and bird.
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Empire Clocks

    Materials

    Ormolu, Steel, Enamel

  • Large Antique French Empire Style Bronze and Marble Figural Clock
    Located in New York, NY
    A Large Antique French Empire style figural patinated bronze, gilt bronze and green marble clock depicting two neoclassical figures.
    Category

    Early 20th Century French Empire Clocks

    Materials

    Ormolu, Bronze

  • Marble and gilt bronze clock surmounted by a statuary white marble sculpture
    By Pierre Campagne
    Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
    This clock presents a reduced reproduction in statuary white marble of "Phryne before its judges" of Pierre Campagne placed on a base in peach flower marble and gilded bronze. The painted enamel dial, underlined by a torus of laurel leaves is presented on a peach flower marble base set...
    Category

    Early 20th Century French Napoleon III Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze

  • Antique Bronze and Stunning Marble Clock Garniture with Eagle Sculptures
    Located in Lisse, NL
    Unique and amazing 19th century mantel clock garniture. If you are looking for a one of a kind and truly spectacular clock to grace your living space then this work of beauty could ...
    Category

    Antique Late 19th Century French Mantel Clocks

    Materials

    Marble, Bronze, Enamel

  • Antique French Gilt Bronze and Rouge Marble Clock Set
    Located in Los Angeles, CA
    Fine 19th century French gilt bronze mounted Rouge marble 3-piece figural clock set Clock: Height: 19.5" Width: 10.5" Candelabras: Height: 22.5" Width: 9"
    Category

    Antique 19th Century French Clocks

    Materials

    Ormolu

Recently Viewed

View All