"Geniuses of the Arts" Gilded Bronze and Marble Clock Set by G. Fabre, c. 1900

Dial signed Polti Frères Measures: With base or glass: Height 61 cm (24 in.), width 51,5 cm (20.3 in.), depth 23.5 cm (9,2 in.) Without base: Height 52 cm (20,5 in.), width 42 cm (16.5 in.), depth 12.5 cm (4.9 in.) Important philhellenic clock in burnished and amati gilded bronze, finely chiseled, representing on the terrace a couple elegantly dressed in "the turkish style", and richly decorated with foliage, scrolls and flowers. The feet, decorated with water leaves, rest on an oval wooden base covered with a globe. The theme of the clock comes from The Giaour, a fragment of a Turkish Tale, an English poem by Lord Byron published in may 1813 which tells the thwarted love of a Venetian, the Giaour – term by which the Turks designate infidels and especially Christians – and of Leila, a slave belonging to Hassan’s seraglio, military leader of a Turkish province. The betrayal of Leila discovered, she will be thrown into the sea and her lover will avenge her by killing Hassan, then taking refuge in a monastery. Symbol of prestige and modernity, the decorative clocks are a reflection of the taste of the era of a wealthy bourgeoisie and may be the subject of diplomatic gifts or between individuals. Beyond the purely decorative aspect of such objects, watchmaking in the 19th century is part of a subtle mix of political, historical and literary references. This philhellenic movement converning the West finds a particular echo in France, one of the countries with the United Kingdom and Russia having suported the Greeks during their war of independance (1821-1830) to free oneself from the grip of the Ottoman Empire. Many clocks...

Signed on the dial A. Beurdeley Paris Mechanism signed J LEFEBVRE FILS PARIS Rare Louis XVI style clock in mercury-gilded and patinated chiseled bronze and white marble. In the form of an arched pediment, it is decorated with four Cupids, two carrying a garland of flowers highlighting the dial, and two others symbolizing the coronation of Science. The molded base in white marble, with a double recess, is decorated with a ribboned torus, a frieze of ribboned oak leaves and interlacing, and rests on six flattened ball feet. Related work : In 1774, the bronze-caster Robert Osmond (1711-1789) designed a first model known as “architectural drawing” illustrating The Coronation of Science. Also called The Children of France, it is decorated with a putti crowning a young girl drawing with a compass and delivered to Versailles by Lépine, clockmaker to the King since 1762, for the apartment of Madame Royale in the Princes’ Wing, on December 28, 1778. (see photo attached) This clock is described in the inventory of Versailles clocks...

Charming clock in the shape of a Rocaille-inspired cartel in chiseled and gilded bronze. Scalloped marine-inspired decor representing a trophy with oars, dolphins, reeds and flowers ...

Dial signed H. Houdebine, Fabricant de Bronzes, Rue de Turenne 64, Paris and clockwork signed Japy Frères & Cie – Médaille d’Honneur A very fine neo-Greek style clock set made up of...

A large and impressive 19th century gilded ormolu and bronze Louis XVI style clock garniture, having a reclined classical lady reading, next to a white enamel clock face with an eigh...

An enchanting 19th century French gilded ormolu and patinated bronze Louis XVI style clock garniture. The four branch, Rococo influenced candelabra each supported by three classical...

This clock set is a remarkable antique, which is not only a brilliant piece of technical design—serving as a fully-functioning timepiece—but is also an exceptional work of sculpture....

Truly unique clock set in pink marble and bronze decorative piece of art the clock is modelled in the image of an 18 century sedan chair that is covered ...