French Louis XV Painted & Ormolu Vernis Martin Cartel Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1750
This French cartel or bracket clock features a waisted case finished in green lacquer paint with floral sprays and garlands in the Vernis Martin taste, framed by pierced foliate rococo gilt bronze mounts and crowned with a spherical gilded finial.
The circular white enamel dial features black Roman numerals for the hours, outer Arabic numerals marking five-minute intervals, pierced filigree hands, and two winding apertures. According to the seller, the wooden case encloses an eight-day brass time and strike movement that chimes the hours and half-hours on a nest of twin bells, regulated by a silk-thread-suspended pendulum.
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
- Cartel clock
- Movement
- 8-day time and strike
- Dimensions
- 13ʺW × 5ʺD × 24ʺH
- Place recorded
- France
- Case Decoration
- Green Vernis Martin lacquer with floral motifs
- Dial Description
- White enamel dial with Roman and Arabic numerals
- Style and Period
- Louis XV, circa 1750
Design
- Visible features
- • Waisted green case decorated with painted floral sprays and garlands • Gilded rococo bronze foliate framing mounts and a spherical top finial • White enamel dial displaying dual winding apertures and pierced gilt filigree hands
- Dial and Timekeeping
- The circular white enamel dial features black Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for five-minute intervals. Time is indicated by pierced brass filigree hands. The dial includes two winding arbors for time and strike functions. The front door is locked by a key, which is stated to be present.
- Movement and Mechanical
- The rear door provides access to an eight-day brass time and strike movement. The mechanism is reported to strike the hours and half-hours on a nest of twin bells located in the upper portion of the case. The pendulum is suspended by a silk thread behind the back plate. The seller states the clock is in working condition and that a winding key is included.
- Case Construction and Aesthetics
- The clock is housed in a waisted wooden case finished in a green lacquer with painted floral sprays and garlands, which the seller identifies as 'Vernis Martin' technique. The case is fitted with pierced foliate gilt bronze rococo-style mounts and is surmounted by a gilded ball finial. The sides feature painted floral decoration and elongated cut-out windows.
Identification
- Reference
- 36745802
- 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 and rear bell mechanism are not visible in the provided image
- Research required: Attribution to circa 1750 and the Vernis Martin technique rely entirely on seller description