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19th Century French Ormolu Mantel Clock


Release date:2020-07-01
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19th Century French Ormolu Mantel Clock

Inventory Number: C1902009


Made circa 19th century in France, signed L.E.P JAPY & Cie on the movement, 65x50x20 cm.

Ormolu (gilt bronze) case, two little putti leading the goat and another one blowing the horn, all of them are surrounded by abundant grapes, such kind of neo-classical style scene often represent prosperity.

White porcelain dial with Roman numerals and Arabic indexes set within the beaded ormolu bezels.

A shaped base with fully decorated acanthus leaves and neat geometric patterns, inset with four porcelain panels with putti and flowers within turquoise and gilt borders.

A typical circular 8-day double-train movement with anchor escapement.

 

Functions: hours, minutes, hours, and half-hours striking.

 


Putto / Putti 

A putto (plural: putti) is a cherub or cupid frequently appearing in both mythological and religious paintings and sculpture, especially between Renaissance and Baroque periods, and later used as a decorative element in the design of furniture, ceramics, sculpture, and clocks, etc.

They are usually depicted as chubby males, or of indeterminate gender, with wings or sometimes not. Their depiction may represent an association with love, heaven, peace, or prosperity.      


Ormolu

Ormolu was popularly used by French craftsmen in the 18th and 19th centuries for ornamental fittings for furniture, clocks, and other decorative items.

True ormolu is gilt bronze, that is bronze that has been coated with gold using a mercury amalgam, applied, and heated, after mercury was evaporated, the gold remained. The mercury evaporated, and due to its poisoning, most gilders did not survive beyond 40 years of age, consequently, the use of mercury was outlawed by French legislation after around 1830, but it was still commonly used until around 1900, electrical plating techniques were introduced to replace ormolu.




 
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