French White Alabaster Mantel Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1900
This French mantel clock, dated to circa 1900, features a construction of white alabaster accented with gilt brass mounts. The architectural body is surmounted by a decorative finial and incorporates cast foliage and floral brass ornamentation on the base and case.
The clock face is crafted from white glazed porcelain, featuring Arabic numerals for the hours and an outer track for minute intervals. The dial is decorated with hand-painted floral swags and garlands between the numerals. It is signed on the dial with the name 'Alencon Chateau', accompanied by two pierced brass hands. Winding arbors are positioned at the 4 and 8 o'clock locations. No images of the movement or the rear of the clock are provided in the source documentation.
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
- circa 1900
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Maker
- Alencon Chateau
- Country
- France
- Case material
- White Alabaster
- Dial material
- Porcelain
- Movement type
- French 8-day two-train
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Unknown (Alencon Chateau is a dial inscription, not a verified maker)
Design
- Visible features
- • White alabaster case with gilt brass foliage and floral appliques • Porcelain dial with Arabic numerals and hand-painted floral decoration • Pierced brass clock hands • Two winding holes located at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions
- Case and Dial Design
- The clock features an architectural case composed of white alabaster. The aesthetic is defined by applied gilt brass ornaments that include floral and foliage motifs, appearing on both the base and the primary housing. A decorative finial is situated atop the case, echoing the ornate metalwork found throughout the structure. The dial is composed of white glazed porcelain. It presents Arabic numerals to indicate the hours and an outer graduated track for the minutes. The area between the numerals is embellished with hand-painted floral swags. Two pierced brass hands are centrally mounted, and the dial includes winding apertures at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions.
- Movement and Mechanism
- The timepiece is equipped with a French-made mechanical movement. It is configured as a two-train system, where one train governs timekeeping and the second train operates the striking mechanism. The movement is rated for an 8-day duration between windings. Internal components of the movement, such as the escapement or back plate, are not visible in the provided photographic evidence. As such, the specific technical condition of the internal mechanics remains unverified.
- Signatures and Attribution
- The dial of the clock bears an inscription which is identified in the source as 'Alencon Chateau'. This signature is located on the porcelain surface between the numerals. The auction description characterizes the signature as potentially difficult to read, noting it as 'unreadable'. No further markings or serial numbers on the case or movement are reported in the provided source.
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 functional status of the movement and the presence of the pendulum and key are unverified
- Research required: The signature 'Alencon Chateau' on the dial is reported as 'unreadable' in the source text
- Research required: The presence of hair-line cracks on the porcelain dial is not confirmed