Victorian Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Cartel Wall Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Late 19th century
This wall clock is catalogued in a Victorian cartel style, dated by the auction house to the late 19th century. The wavy, contoured case combines burl veneer borders with ebonized moulding, framing inner spandrels ornamented with iridescent mother-of-pearl floral and foliate inlay.
A brass bezel encloses a white porcelain dial with black Roman numerals and ornate pierced hands. Sourced documentation describes the internal mechanism as an eight-day time and strike movement, though the seller notes its operational running condition is unknown.
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
- Era
- Late 19th century
- Dial
- Original porcelain Roman numeral dial
- Type
- Cartel clock
- Case design
- Shaped ebonized and burl veneer case with mother-of-pearl inlay
- Movement type
- Eight-day time and strike movement
- Running condition
- Unknown
Design
- Visible features
- • Wavy serpentine square case framed by banded burl veneer and ebonized moulding • Iridescent mother-of-pearl inlay arranged in foliate spandrel designs surrounding the dial • White porcelain dial with black Roman hour numerals • Two winding arbors positioned between IV–V and VII–VIII • Elaborate pierced trefoil-style hands • Circular brass bezel surrounding the dial
- Case Construction
- The clock is presented in a cartel-style case, which is shaped and finished with ebonized and burl veneer. The frame incorporates decorative inlay. The ornamentation consists of iridescent mother-of-pearl arranged in floral and foliate patterns.
- Mechanism and Condition
- The source identifies the clock as having an eight-day time and strike movement; however, the movement is not visible in the provided photographic record. The seller reports the running condition as unknown, and the item is sold in an as-found condition.
- Dial and Visual Features
- The clock features a porcelain dial with Roman numerals. The dial is enclosed by a circular brass bezel. The time is indicated by ornate hands.
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: Internal movement is not visible in the photograph
- Research required: Running condition is untested and reported as unknown
- Research required: Maker and country of origin are not stated by the auction house