French Victorian Mantel Clock with Sevres Panels
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1870
This is a French Victorian-era mantel clock with an eight-day, bell-striking movement. The clock is housed in a bronze ormolu case featuring a Sevres finial at the top.
The dial is enameled in blue and white and features hand-painted bird motifs and gold spade-style steel hands. The case includes inset panels decorated with hand-painted scenes, including one depicting a mother combing her daughter's hair. The clock measures 42 cm in height, 20 cm in width, and 15 cm in depth. , and the clock is accompanied by its winding key and pendulum. The object is attributed to the French Victorian period with an approximate date of 1870.
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
- Condition
- Working order, serviced
- Dimensions
- 42cm x 20cm x 15cm
- Case Material
- Bronze ormolu
- Dial Features
- Hand painted blue and white enamel with birds
- Movement Type
- 8-day French bell striking movement
- Place recorded
- France
- Included Accessories
- Key and pendulum
Design
- Visible features
- • The dial features bird imagery and spade-shaped steel hands • A circular movement plate is visible behind the clock door • Inset panels depict a landscape scene with a windmill and a figurative scene of a mother and daughter
- Case and Dial Design
- The clock is contained within an original bronze ormolu case, which is finished in a decorative Victorian style. The structure is capped by a decorative finial described as a Sevres finial. The dial is crafted from blue and white enamel and features a hand-painted depiction of birds in flight. The time is indicated by gold-colored steel hands in a spade shape. The case incorporates several inset painted panels. One panel features a narrative scene of a mother combing her daughter's hair, while another visible panel shows a landscape with a windmill. The ormolu is sculpted with elaborate details, including masks and decorative scrollwork.
- Movement and Mechanics
- The mechanism is accessed via a rear door in the clock casing. The movement plate is visible upon inspection of the back of the case, which bears the number 16385 alongside an engraved mark or signature. According to the provided information, the movement has recently undergone servicing and is currently in working order. The timekeeping mechanism is intended to be used with the included pendulum and winding key provided by the seller.
- Condition and Dimensions
- The clock measures 42 cm in height, 20 cm in width, and 15 cm in depth. The seller reports that the item is in very good condition for its age. While the original finish is preserved on the bronze ormolu case, the seller indicates the presence of slight signs of age and suggests that viewers examine the photographs provided to satisfy themselves with the condition. The clock is functional and is sold as being in working order, having been maintained for continued use.
Identification
- Reference
- Jn108
- Serial number
- 16385
- 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 movement maker is not provided in the source despite the stamp
- Research required: The specific origin of the porcelain panels remains unverified beyond the description of 'Sevres'