French Mantel Clocks

A gilt bronze Empire clock in the form of a classical urn, by Maison Lepautre. French, circa 1825. The dial signed 'Lepaute a Paris'. The clock has an ornate cast bezel with a 3-inch porcelain dial with Roman numerals and Breguet style hands. The twin train eight-day movement with outside count wheel striking on a bell and silk thread suspension. This elegant Empire style clock has a gilt bronze case in the form of a classical urn with swan neck handles and a winged cherub to the neck. The circular pedestal base is raised on a footed stepped square plinth. The Lepaute family were the premier French clockmakers of their day. Their significance lies in their contribution to the clock making industry which had hitherto come under the trade of locksmiths. The family held the brevet Horlogers du Roi. Jean-André Lepaute (1720–1789) arrived in Paris at an early age and in 1740 founded the family business. A skilled artist and mechanic, he quickly gained an excellent reputation. He was received as maître by the clockmakers guild in 1759, was granted royal lodgings from the king in The Luxembourg Palace, and was entrusted with the construction of the majority of the great public clocks of Paris. He executed, amongst others, those in The Luxembourg Palace, the Jardin des Plantes, the Château de Bellevue and the Château des Ternes. His clock at Paris’s École Militaire still works today. Three editions of his Traité d’Horlogerie were published in Paris in 1755, 1760 and 1767. A small volume, Description de Plusieurs Ouvrages d’Horlogerie appeared in 1764. Jean-André’s wife, Nicole-Reine Etable de la Brière (1723-1788), was a highly esteemed mathematician and astronomer. Her passion for science lent itself to Lepaute’s work and she played an active role in the scientific and mathematical aspects of the clock making. Jean-André’s younger brother Jean-Baptiste Lepaute (1727-1802) joined him in Paris in 1747 and immediately started working for the family business. He was received as maître in 1776 and was known for the clocks he constructed for the Paris Hôtel de Ville (1780), destroyed in a fire of 1871, and for the Hôtel des Invalides (1784). Jean-Baptiste took over the workshop when Jean-André retired in 1775. After Jean-Baptiste’s death in 1802, the firm was taken over by his nephew Pierre-Basil Lepaute (1750-1843) where he was duly joined by his own nephew Jean-Joseph (1768-1846) and son Pierre-Michel (1785-1849). By 1816, Pierre-Michel Lepaute was in charge of the business. His masterpieces include the astronomical clock in Paris’s Bureau...

An exceptional French mid 19th century Charles X period ormolu portico clock. The clock is raised by fine bun feet below the rectangular base with an elegant mottled design and richl...

A handsome and high quality French 19th century Napoleon III period black Belgian marble, ormolu and patinated bronze garniture set. The three pi...

A stunning 19th Century Louis XVI Style Regulator Gilt Bronze clock by Ferdinand Berthoud. A French Louis XVI style gilt bronze regulator clock, the finely cast rectangular case with four beveled glass sides; the large white enamel dial with Roman numerals is decorated above and below with gilt bronze garlands. The dial is signed and the stepped base is further embellished on three sides with a gilded frieze...

Louis XVI style sea green marble and bronze fireplace surround. Consisting of a 4-column clock and 2 pots. Mechanism with pendulum in working...

Imposing and magnificent fireplace gilded bronze and blue porcelain vases. The clock is decorated with putti representing the 4 seasons. It is su...

A beautiful French cut-glass and gilded ormolu Louis XVI style urn mantel clock. Measures: 41cm (16") high. Having 'hobnail cut glass pattern, two scrolling handles with winged lion ...

A very fine antique 19th century French gilt bronze and hand painted porcelain 3-piece clock set in the Japonisme style. The clock finely decorated with porcelain plaques, painted in the Japanese style with Cherry blossom branches. The front plaque features a Sulphur-crested cockatoo with a red sun in the sky on the right. The clock’s rectangular body is crowned by an arched top which contains a circular porcelain dial. This dial features a painting of a pair of birds on a cherry branch at its center, encircled by black Roman Numerals within white cartouches. The shoulders of the clock are mounted with gilt bronze elephant...

A stunning French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu clock, by Bardon, Montpellier. The clock has two love birds on the left looking over to a patinated bronze cupid, standing pro...

A Good French mantel clock garniture By Charles Oudin, Paris The garniture comprising a clock and two candelabras, constructed in gilt bronze and ‘Se...

A good quality pair of French gilded ormolu and rouge marble candelabra, depicting two putti each supporting a two branch candelabra.

A good quality French gilded ormolu, bronze and rouge marble mantel clock, in the Louis XVI style. Having Doves above the clock face, an enamel dial with an eight day movement, chiming on the hour and half hour. Bronze putti on either side play the pipes and mounted on a rouge marble base. Maker name; Hamilton and inches...

A superb gilt bronze and Sienna marble clock depicting Urania (muse of astronomy).

A very high quality and unique French early 19th century white Carrara marble and ormolu quarter strike clock with sundial, signed Robert et Courvoisier. The clock is raised on an ebonized fruitwood support with ball feet. The rectangular white Carrara marble base above is decorated with finely chased ormolu mounts of cherubs and mythological scenes, topped with wonderfully chased lions perched at each corner. The white Carrara marble sundial is raised on an ebonized fruitwood panel, framed with a chased ormolu border. Above is the large enamel clock within a twisted rope ormolu designed border. The impressive top crown has a white Carrara marble base and semiprecious stone globe clutched by an open winged ormolu eagle. With a very intricate movement, including a crown wheel escapement and machinery striking on the back panel. A remarkable double chime at every quarter with three chimes at the 3rd quarter. Louis Courvoisier (1758é1832) A Swiss clock...

A very finely detailed gilt and patinated bronze clock featuring two maidens supporting the timepiece.

A striking and most decorative French 19th century Neo-Classical st. ormolu and Rouge Griotte marble three piece garniture set signed Japy Frères. The impressive clock, which Japy Frères won a gold metal for this clock in 1855, at the center is raised by a rectangular Rouge Griotte marble base with fine bun feet and a striking wrap around Coeur de Rai and pierced palmettes bands at the mottled border. The white enameled clock face displays pierced hands and Roman hour numerals set within the mottled ormolu bezel with intricately detailed beaded and foliate designs with two charming and most unique butterflies. A beautiful maiden is seated above draped in a wonderfully executed flowing garment while breastfeeding a charming winged cherub with an anchor, a quiver, and an ewer at their side. The pair of urns are displayed at each side and are each raised by elegant square bases with a bottom ormolu band and an exceptional wrap around mottled band. Above the square Rouge Griotte pedestal...

An Elegant Mantle Clock In the Louis XV Manner The clock and its plinth executed in gilt bronze in a dynamic rococo style, rising from scrolling foliage, the dial in the shape of a ...

A French late 19th century gilt-bronze (ormolu) mantel clock in the Rococo style. This trapeze-shaped clock is supported by four scroll feet, the lower part of the piece is symmetric...

A fine Early 19th century French Empire ormolu bronze mantel clock. Depicting a winged cherub standing atop a barrel while a kneeling lady pouring wine ...

A French gilt bronze eight-day four face mantel clock with date, temperature and barometer, circa 1855. Origin: France. Dimensions: Height: 9....

A large and exceptional Louis XVI style gilt-bronze and white marble figural mantel clock, by Grohé Frères, Paris. The dial signed ‘Grohé, A Paris'. ...

By Arthur WAAGEN (active 1869-1910). Japanese-style clock set. Made out of spelter. Representing a young woman dressed in a kimono

A fabulous ormolu-mounted and patinated bronze white and blue turquin marble three-piece clock set of putti. Comprising a mantel clock and a pair of five-light candelabras molded wit...

A fine Louis XVI style gilt and patinated bronze figural clock. French, circa 1870. This fine clock has a waisted body decorated with scrolls and trellis centred by a white ena...

A Louis XVI style gilt bronze and Sèvres style porcelain mounted figural clock, Allegorical of the Arts. The dial signed 'Colin, Paris'. The movement stamped 'Vincenti et Cie'. ...

A most exquisite French mid 19th century Louis XVI st. ormolu and white Carrara marble clock. The clock is raised by topie shaped ormolu supports, The rectangular marble base is deco...