Marti et Cie. Movement Pendulum Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th Century
This antique French crystal regulator mantel clock features a brass case fitted with beveled glass panels and stands on four turned feet. The front door frame and circular dial bezel are bordered with faceted paste or crystal embellishments.
Its white porcelain dial is decorated with floral swags and Arabic numerals, accompanied by two winding arbors. Below hangs a pendulum whose bob displays a miniature portrait of a lady in eighteenth-century attire, also ringed by faceted stones. The auction catalog notes that the movement is by Marti et Cie. and is marked 'Medaille D'Argent 1889' and 'Made in France'.
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
- Crystal regulator clock
- Circa
- 19th Century
- Origin
- France
- Markings
- Medaille D'Argent 1889, Made in France
- Dimensions
- H: 9 5/8" W: 6 5/8"
- Movement Maker
- Marti Et Cie.
- Pendulum Motif
- Hand painted female portrait
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Marti et Cie.
Design
- Visible features
- • Brass case with beveled glass sides and front door • Front door frame and dial bezel encrusted with rows of faceted clear stones • White porcelain dial with Arabic hour numerals, floral garlands, and two winding arbors • Pendulum bob set with a circular portrait of a woman encircled by stones • Molded brass base resting on four small turned feet
- Dial and Pendulum Configuration
- The circular dial is executed in white porcelain and displays Arabic hour numerals accented by floral garlands, along with two winding arbors. It is framed by a jeweled border described in the source as doré bronze. Suspended within the glazed case, the pendulum bob features a circular hand-painted portrait depicting an elegant lady in eighteenth-century fashions. As seen in visual observations, this portrait medallion is also encircled by clear faceted stones.
- Movement Markings and Source Limitations
- The movement is attributed by the auction catalog to Marti et Cie. and is reported to be marked "Medaille D'Argent 1889" and "Made in France". These markings and the internal mechanism are stated by the source catalog and are not directly visible in the front photograph. The auctioneer lists the mechanical condition as "Untested. With some rusting signs." The catalog gives the origin as France and dates the object to the 19th Century, which aligns with the reported 1889 exposition award mark.
- Case Construction and Exterior Ornamentation
- The clock is housed in a brass crystal regulator case measuring 9 5/8 inches high by 6 5/8 inches wide. It features beveled glass side panels and doors, resting upon a molded base supported by four turned feet. Direct visual observation confirms that the front door frame and circular dial bezel are bordered by rows of faceted clear stones. The catalog describes the bezel as a dore bronze jeweled border. Condition notes from the auctioneer record wear across the decorative components, noting "Some missing embellishment crystals."
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 markings and Marti et Cie. attribution are stated by the source catalog and not directly visible in the image
- Research required: Source notes untested mechanical condition, signs of rust, and missing embellishment crystals