A. Maurel Bordeaux Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1870
This French mantel clock dates to the Napoleon III era, circa 1870, and is crafted in the Louis XVI revival style. The fire-gilt bronze case features a shaped plinth base resting on four decorated block feet, embellished at the front with a central relief lion mask, laurel branches, and a beaded frieze.
Above, a drum-shaped housing is flanked by foliate volutes draped with sculpted floral garlands and surmounted by a floral bouquet finial. The white enamel dial is marked with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numbers for five-minute intervals, set behind pierced hands and pierced by dual winding arbors. The interior houses a round French movement signed by A. Maurel of Bordeaux, fitted with a spring suspension and a half-hour bell strike.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Material
- Fire-gilt bronze
- Dimensions
- 38 x 23 x 13 cm
- Period / Date
- Napoleon III era, around 1870
- Place recorded
- France
- Movement Mechanism
- Round movement with spring suspension and half-hour strike on bell
- Maker / attribution
- A. Maurel Bordeaux
- Maker / Movement Signature
- A. Maurel Bordeaux
Design
- Visible features
- • Fire-gilt bronze drum-form case surmounted by a sculpted bouquet finial • White enamel dial with Roman hour numerals, Arabic minute markers, pierced hands, and dual winding arbors • Curved plinth base with decorated block feet, centered with a lion mask flanked by foliage
- Dial and Movement
- The clock has a white enamel dial with Roman hour numerals and Arabic minute numerals, framed by a bezel with a pearl frieze. The hands are described as pierced and in the Louis XVI style. The internal round movement is noted as signed 'A. Maurel Bordeaux'. It features a spring suspension and a half-hour strike on a bell. A winding key is included.
- Condition and Attribution
- The fire-gilding is described as well-preserved with partial rubbing. The movement is reported as running, though the auction house explicitly excludes guarantees regarding function and mechanical completeness. Attributions to the maker A. Maurel of Bordeaux and the dating to approximately 1870 are based on cataloguer and consignor information, which the auction house states may be subject to expert contradiction.
- Physical Composition and Design
- This mantle clock is constructed from fire-gilt bronze and measures 38 x 23 x 13 cm. It is described as a French mantel clock in the Louis XVI style, originating from the Napoleon III era. The object features a shaped plinth with four decorative block feet, centered with a lion mask and laurel leaves. The drum-shaped clock case is flanked by side scrolls with sculpted floral garlands and topped by an architectural finial featuring a floral bouquet. The housing incorporates a pearl frieze.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Internal movement signature and mechanical components are not visible in the provided photo
- Research required: Operational condition and timekeeping accuracy cannot be verified from the photograph