French Empire mantel clock with Benjamin Franklin figure
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This 19th-century French Empire-style mantel clock features a gilt-bronze sculpture of Benjamin Franklin seated beside an electrostatic machine. The figure is depicted wearing a fur-trimmed coat, referencing his time in France.
The clock case is constructed from a dark material, providing a contrast to the gilt-bronze decorative elements, including the dial surround with leaf and scroll motifs, and the base supported by foliate-decorated scroll feet. The white enamel dial displays black Roman numerals. The clock is reported by the source to have been created by a French artist in the style of the clockmaker Dubuc. The piece stands approximately 58.4 cm in height, 27.9 cm in width, and 17.8 cm in depth.
The condition and provenance of the internal mechanisms remain undocumented by the source.
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
- Date
- 19th century
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Depth
- 17.8 cm
- Width
- 27.9 cm
- Height
- 58.4 cm
- Materials
- Gilt bronze and black case material
- Place recorded
- France
Design
- Visible features
- • Gilt-bronze figure of Benjamin Franklin with an electrostatic apparatus • Black case with gilt-bronze scroll feet and decorative base moulding • White dial with Roman numerals surrounded by a leaf-and-scroll gilt bezel • Glazed rear access panel revealing a bell-strike movement
- Dial and Movement
- The clock features a white dial marked with black Roman numerals. The dial is set within the main body, surrounded by an ornamental bronze frame. Behind the clock, a brass-framed glazed door allows for visibility and access to the internal mechanism and the mechanical bell. Technical details regarding the movement, such as its specific type or maker, are not provided. The source states that exact details concerning past maintenance or the operational status of the bell-strike mechanism are not recorded in the available documentation.
- Attribution and Background
- The source indicates that the clock was created by a French artist, noting it is executed in the style of the clockmaker Dubuc. The source provides these details as claims provided by the gallery, clarifying that they do not represent an independent authentication by the platform.
- Case and Figurative Decoration
- The clock is designed in the French Empire style, characterized by a dark, rectilinear case that serves as a pedestal for a large, gilt-bronze sculpture. The sculpture depicts Benjamin Franklin seated in an armchair, accompanied by a miniature model of an electrostatic machine, a nod to his scientific contributions. The figure is rendered with clothing details including a fur-trimmed coat. The base and upper sections of the case are adorned with gilt-bronze mounts. The dial is framed by a decorative bezel featuring foliage and scrollwork, while the bottom of the case is mounted on scrolling feet that incorporate foliate designs. These elements provide a high-contrast aesthetic against the dark surface of the main case body.
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: The exact identity of the clockmaker is unconfirmed, noted only as being in the style of Dubuc
- Research required: The operational status and full originality of the internal clock movement are not specified by the source