French Louis XV style cartel clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Around 1740
This cartel clock is constructed primarily from green horn veneer, referred to as green horn, accented with fire-gilded bronze, polished brass, blackened wood, and enamel.
Standing 86 cm tall, the clock features a case characterized by floral stylized decoration and gilt-bronze mounts. The front is fitted with glass partially obscured by a rococo dragon motif. The dial is inset with enamel components, displaying Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals along the outer rim. It is signed "DARAU A PARIS" at the base of the dial. The piece incorporates a half-beaten clock movement identified by the source as dating from the second half of the 19th century.
The object has undergone restoration. The combination of green horn veneer and gilded bronze is identified by the source as reflecting an 18th-century French technique for this type of wall-hanging timepiece.
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
- Maker
- Darau
- Movement
- Half beaten
- Dimensions
- 86 cm
- Dial detail
- Inset enamel parts
- Date of case
- Around 1740
- Case materials
- Green horn veneer, gilded bronze, brass, steel, bell metal, blackened wood
- Place recorded
- France
- Signature location
- Bottom of the dial
- Maker / attribution
- Darau
Design
- Visible features
- • Green horn veneer panels • Gilt-bronze dragon motif • Dial signed DARAU A PARIS • Enamel numeral plaques
- Dial and Signature
- The dial is characterized by an intricate, richly decorated background onto which individual enamel segments are inset. These segments feature Roman numerals for the primary timekeeping indicators, while smaller Arabic numerals are positioned along the outer edge of the dial rim. The signature "DARAU A PARIS" is inscribed directly at the bottom of the dial. This signature identifies the clock with the Parisian maker Darau, consistent with the source attribution of the piece to the French tradition of the early 18th century.
- Movement and Restoration
- The source indicates that the current movement housed within the cartel case dates to the second half of the 19th century. The movement is described as a half-beaten type. This suggests a replacement or modification occurred long after the initial creation of the case, which is dated to around 1740. The auction description reports that the clock has been restored. This restoration includes the general condition of the timepiece, though the extent of work on the movement or the green horn veneer is not specified.
- Case Construction and Ornamentation
- The case of this cartel clock is composed of green horn veneer, a material noted in the source for its rarity and technical difficulty. The green surfaces are framed by fire-gilded bronze mounts executed in a floral, stylized aesthetic. The case structure incorporates brass, steel, bell metal, and blackened wood, consistent with mid-18th-century French production. The front glass, which protects the dial and movement, is accented with a fire-gilded bronze rococo dragon motif. This ornamentation is integrated into the structural shell of the timepiece, which retains the overall dimensions of 86 cm.
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: Movement date discrepancy with case date
- Research required: Nature of the restoration work performed