Genius of the Arts Mantel Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1815
This mantel clock, dating to circa 1815, is signed by the clockmaker James Moore French of the Royal Exchange, London. The timepiece features a patinated bronze statue depicting the Genius of Literature, portrayed as a winged male figure leaning against a gilt bronze clock case.
The case is set upon a Verde Antico marble plinth supported by ormolu bun feet. Decorative elements on the case include high-relief medallion portraits of classical writers and philosophers, accompanied by rope moldings, acanthus scrollwork, and architectural column motifs. The white enamel dial displays Roman numerals and blued steel hands, surrounded by an engine-turned gilt bezel. The movement is an eight-day fusee type with an original chain, a signed backplate, and a cylindrical pendulum.
James Moore French maintained a presence at the Royal Exchange and produced clocks that incorporated sculptural elements alongside English horological mechanisms.
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 1815
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Maker
- James Moore French
- Dimensions
- 20 inches high x 13 1/4 inches wide x 7 inches deep
- Movement type
- Eight-day fusee
- Place recorded
- England
- Signature location
- Dial and backplate
- Maker / attribution
- James Moore French
Design
- Visible features
- • Patinated bronze figure of a winged male • Verde Antico marble base with ormolu bun feet • High-relief medallion portraits on the clock case • White enamel dial with Roman numerals
- Dial and Movement
- The clock features a white enamel dial marked with Roman numerals, utilizing blued steel hands for time indication. The dial is held within a gilt bezel that has been decorated with engine-turning. The internal mechanism is an eight-day fusee movement, which includes its original chain and a cylindrical pendulum. The backplate of the movement is signed by the maker, ensuring the horological components align with the dial signature.
- Clock Case and Design
- The clock is designed with an allegorical theme, featuring a monumental patinated bronze sculpture of the Genius of Literature. The figure is depicted as a winged male leaning against the clock's architectural housing. The housing is cast in gilt bronze and incorporates significant sculptural ornamentation, including high-relief medallion portraits that represent classical writers and philosophers. These portraits are bordered by decorative rope moldings and acanthus leaf scrollwork, with column structures integrated into the design. The entire assembly is mounted upon a plinth composed of Verde Antico marble and rests on ormolu bun feet, providing a stable foundation for the vertical height of the object.
- Maker and Attribution
- James Moore French operated his business from the Royal Exchange in London during the early 19th century. , and French is noted for the integration of sculptural cases with English timekeeping movements. The clock represents an effort to combine English fusee mechanics with traditions of Continental bronze casting. The signature identifies the maker as operating from the Royal Exchange, which serves as the primary point of attribution for the manufacture.
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: Exact origin of the bronze figure not verified
- Research required: Attribution of the case design to a specific artist not stated