Bronze Dore Mantel Clock, 19th Century by F. Berthoud with Open Escapement

Exceptional bronze doré and rouge griotte marble clock and candelabrum set by Ferdinand Berthoud. Signed “Fd Berthoud/Paris on the face. 19th century, good working condition and has...

Elegant three-piece bronze doré garniture set Finely chased bronze with original gilding Fine detail work.

Elegant three-piece bronze doré garniture set Finely chased bronze with original gilding Fine detail work.

Bronze gilt French mantel clock with Sevres style porcelain painted with cherubs. A centered urn At the crest with floral and foliate design. A petite bird centered at the top. Two ...

Large cartel clock in bronze with a patinated putto that sits at the crest of this exceptional clock. Flourishes and foliate designs grace the sides of the circular clock...

Large cartel clock in bronze with a patinated putto that sits at the crest of this exceptional clock. A rooster is encased below the face depicting the beginning of a new day. Flou...

French 19th century doré bronze mantel clock.

Ormolu bronze mantel clock flanked by a troubadour and musical instruments, signed 'Ferdinand Berthoud a Paris'. The end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century was a crucial time in which new technological advances helped to make watches more accurate and more portable. During the 1790s, the production of gilded bronze increased considerably as working conditions improved. The freedom of trade initiated by the French Revolution allowed many casters to develop large factories. The new factory environment gave them a chance to execute all stages of bronze work including drawing, casting, gilding, assembly, and trade of art objects. While the bronzers took creative liberty in creating all kinds of clocks in contrast to the noble and rigorous structure carried by the movement of neoclassicism. Under the reign of Empire, the case designs started gradually to develop away from a proportionate and strict classicism towards a baroque style and revival style. The rediscovery of medieval civilization was one of the intellectual curiosities of the beginning of the 19th century, with much input from the Ancien Régime and its institutions, rites and the medieval churches in which family ceremonies occurred. This early nineteenth-century figural mantel clock is surmounted by a medieval musician. To be more precise, it is a french troubadour. Troubadours were known for composing and performing lyric poetry for the nobility back during medieval times. The clock is featuring a chiselled bronze troubadour, dressed in medieval fashion while holding a flute, playing a tune from sheet music called "Du Troubadour" that is resting on top of the rectangular clock case. In addition to that, the clock features a gilt bronze lute or vielle resting on a small stool on the opposite side of the clock’s case. The white enamel dial features the inscription Berthoud and is underlined by a bronze entourage chiselled with palmette motif, plus encompassed by c-scrolls and wreaths. The original hands are in blued steel and encircled by Roman numerals indicating hour next to Arabic numerals indicating minutes. The small details that adorn the hexagonal plinth are reliefs, depicting two water fountains or basins on both sides with a lyre in between. The sculpted image of a lyre raised above the background features also foliage garlands tied on top with ribbons. The clock rests on seven spinning feet. The clock was made in the well-known workshop of the Berthoud’s family that was recognized for their excellent work by the King. Berthoud Clockmakers History. Ferdinand Berthoud was a horologist and author of extensive treatises on timekeeping as well as a Swiss clockmaker serving the king of France, that produced many marine clocks, including a weight-driven version that inspired the first American sea-going clock. He was born in Plancemont, Switzerland, the son of an architect and judiciary. In 1741 he began a three-year apprenticeship as a clockmaker under his brother, Jean-Henri. He made his first marine chronometer in 1754 (sent for trial in 1761) and in 1764 was appointed a member of the Royal Society, London and Horloger Mécanicien de Sa Majesté et de la Marine ayant l'inspection de la construction des Horloges Marines. In 1769, Ferdinand Berthoud sent for his nephew Pierre-Louis Berthoud (1754–1813), commonly known as Louis Berthoud, a talented young watchmaker and clockmaker, inviting him to come to Paris from Couvet, Switzerland, to pursue his apprenticeship. Louis helped Ferdinand manufacture and repair the sea clocks...

Table clock. Marble and bronze, 19th century. Table clock with Paris box machinery made of marble and bronze and with porcelain plates applications with roc...

A fabulous and quite important 18th century Louis XVI period Carrara marble and dore bronze mantle clock, signed F. Berthoud, Paris. The body of the clock is exceptionally cast and f...

A large and impressive very good quality 19th century French Louis XVI style mantel (fireplace) clock, having a bronze mother and two children ...

Exquisite Bronze dore Richmond Fab Boule Montmartre #17 mantel clock. Made in Paris, France. 19th Century