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c.
1820 Large Ormolu Urn Clock, Michelez, à Paris. An exceptionally cast and modeled large empire urn clock by the maker Michelez and the dial enameller Dubuisson. The ormolu case has several well cast mounts including the handles terminating in rare deer heads. The finely lettered porcelain dial is signed Michelez, Rue St. honore No. 128, à Paris on the front, 'Dub 849' on the back, and has cast ormolu hands. The eight-day two-train movement strikes on a bell, is of exceptional quality, and still retains its original silk-thread suspension. Michelez was a student of Breguet and produced clocks which were of the highest quality. All of the clocks that we have seen by the maker have been well above average quality and have been superbly finished. Height 19in. SOLD |
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c.
1750 Small Ormolu Cartel Clock, A.L. Tallon, à Paris.
A very nice small Louis XV quarter repeating cartel clock signed by the maker A.L. Tallon, à Paris. The ormolu case definitely exhibits the asymmetrical, organic qualities associated with the Louis XV style. The curvilinear open framework is unified by pierced fabric backed frets. The porcelain dial is signed by the maker, has engraved ormolu hands and finely lettered black roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numbers for the five-minute markers. The single-barrel eight-day movement retains its silk-thread suspension. The clock is silent unless the repeat mechanism is manually activated by the pull-cord that extends out the front. It then repeats both the last hour and quarter. A.L.Tallon is listed in Tardy's as Alexander-Louis Tallon, 1743-1758. Height 20.5in. SOLD |
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c.1810 Ormolu and Green Marble Mantle Clock, 'La Liseuse'. This model, originally titled 'La Liseuse', the reader, is one of the most popular models of the Empire period. It depicts a female figure reading by oil lamp seated at a table with draped sides and claw feet. It sits upon a green marble base with unusually bold ormolu feet. The white porcelain dial is very nicely lettered and the eight-day two-train movement strikes on a bell. The movement was updated in the Victorian period and now has a steel spring suspension. The clock was originally designed by the famous bronzer Reiche who submitted the drawings to the Academy in 1805. For similar models see Vergolten Bronzen, pg. 374; French Bronze Clocks, pg. 86. Height 12in. SOLD |
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c.1875 Quarter Striking Multi-dial Gorge Cased Carriage Clock, Idrac-LeRoy, Rue de Bouloi 22, Paris. A French gilt gorge cased quarter-striking with repeat carriage clock with both alarm and date chapters. The finely lettered porcelain dial is signed Idrac-LeRoy, Paris and has two subsidiary dials for the date and the alarm which are both set through the backplate. The movement, striking on two bells and repeating on demand, still retains its original silvered lever platform. Case and movement stamped 1737. The overall height - 6 3/8"(handle up). SOLD |
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c.
1870 French Tortoise Shell and Gilt-Bronze Bird Box, Plajoulot, Paris. A very nice tortoise bird-box by the maker Plajoulot a Paris. The rectangular tortoise case has a gilt-bronze slide and an engraved pop-up lid finished in both matt and burnished gold. When activated the colorful bird pops up, rotates side to side, flaps its wings, tail and ivory beak and sings a fairly complicated song. When finished the bird drops through the trap door located in the detailed fretwork as the lid slams closed. The rectangular movement has the bellows at one end, winds through the bottom of the case and is stamped by the maker 'Plajoulot Paris'. The box will play 7.5 times on a complete wind, but as is the case in almost all non-fusee boxes the last few songs are a bit too slow to be entertaining. It was completely restored and has a wonderful song. Size 3.75 x 2.25 x 1.25in. SOLD |
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c.
1905 Green Figured Marble, Silvered and Gilt-Bronze Incline Clock, Chartier,
France. A very rare Incline Plane clock made by Chartier and retailed by Charles Hour. The clock is placed at the top of the felt covered incline and slowly rolls down to the bottom indicating the time and day as it descends. The figured marble base has three raised panels each framed by gilt-bronze moldings, a silvered engraved scale showing day and time intervals and a cast silvered stop. It is surmounted by and sits upon rectangular pieces of black Belgian marble. The eight-day weight driven movement has a balance wheel escapement and is housed in a gilt-bronze drum case. The silvered-engraved twelve-hour dial has both hour and minute hands and is elaborately engraved in the center. The dial always remains vertically oriented and has a small pointer that indicates day and approximate time of day on the scale below as it runs. To keep the drum from rolling too quickly a brass bound lead weight inside slowly falls backward as the clock runs. This compensates for the forces of gravity and forces the drum to roll at the desired speed. It will continue to run until it reaches the bottom when to wind one must only place the drum back at the top. It is complete, restored and keeps surprisingly good time. For similar clocks see Mystery, Novelty & Fantasy Clocks by Derek Roberts, Chapter 5. Overall Length 26.25in. SOLD |
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c.1795
English Mahogany Tallcase Clock, James Sandiford, Salford. A very traditional North country tallcase clock originating just outside of Manchester by James Sandiford, Salford. The movement is a weight driven eight-day time and strike with an inside countwheel. The brass broken arch dial has applied spandrels, a moon dial, a seconds bit, a matted center with floral engraving and an aperture for the calendar. All the functions are indicated on silvered engraved chapters with black lettering. The traditional case is made from a good quality, very tightly grained mahogany and is complemented by satinwood inlay throughout. As is often the case in North country clocks, the top door is not secured by a lock, but by a hook which is engaged by a slide located inside the case. Height 96 in. SOLD |
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c.1810
French Ormolu chariot Clock An extremely well cast and modeled Empire ormolu chariot clock. It depicts a small boy driving an exceptionally chased chariot pulled by an appropriately coiffed poodle. The finely lettered chapter ring porcelain dial has roman numerals and a cast ormolu centerpiece that is duplicated in the back. It allows the movement to be seen and continues the illusion of the chariot. The whole assembly sits upon an ormolu base with canted corners, well-cast mounts and stylized bun feet. The eight-day, twin-barrel movement strikes on a bell, has its original silk-thread suspension and has the fast-slow out the front. The clock is truly exceptional and certainly would be considered first quality. Height 11.25in. SOLD |
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c.1810 French Ormolu and Patinated Blackamoor Clock A
very rare Empire ormolu and patinated Blackamoor clock that is part of
the subgroup known as “negre au travail”. The well-cast and
modeled male figure, with original patination and glass eyes, has an ormolu
dress and feathered headdress and stands beside the clock that is housed
in a shipping bail. In his outstretched arm he holds an ormolu Parrot
and scattered about are the other wares to be traded including an ormolu
jewelry box, rug, and a bow and quiver. The whole stands upon a patinated
base with four bold feet and a freeze that with the addition of an appropriately
dressed European trader echoes the scene above. The very finely lettered
porcelain dial has Roman numerals with Arabic fifteen-minute markers,
an engine turned bezel and cast ormolu hands. The twin-barrel eight-day
movement strikes on a bell and still retains its original silk-thread
suspension. |
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c.1923 American Gilt-Bronze and Variegated Green Marble Mantle Clock, E.F.
Caldwell & Co., New York. A rare figured green marble and gilt-bronze early 20th century mantel clock by the prestigious firm E. F. Caldwell & Co., New York. The elaborately engraved gilt-bronze drum is supported by an Ionic column and held at the sides by rampant lions that are unusually not just mirror images, but differently modeled lions similarly posed. The whole assembly sits on a stepped variegated green marble base. The porcelain dial is signed by the maker, 'Edw. F. Caldwell & Co., New York', has gilt-bronze engraved hands, a slow/fast arbor, black Roman numerals and is signed on the back by the dial maker, 'O'Hara Co. Waltham, Mass.' The time-only eight-day Chelsea movement is numbered 155,640 and is accessed by removing the screws that secure the gilt-bronze back. Edward F. Caldwell and Victor F. von Lossberg established the firm E.F.Caldwell & Co. in 1901 in lower New York City. They produced a large array of high-end decorative items including lamps and clocks for the most prominent architectural and designer firms. For further information on the company see Edward F. Caldwell & Company, Magazine Antiques, Feb. 1998. Height 8in. Width 17in. SOLD |