A large French ormolu and marble urn mantel clock by Thomire, circa 1800

Description

The dial

The 10-cm enamel dial has Roman numerals for the hours. The outer rim is callibrated for the minutes and is numbered for the quarters. The inner rim is callibrated for a revolutionary calendar 1-30. The centre is signed for the clockmaker Thonissen à Paris. The pierced and engraved hands are made of gilt brass. The date pointer is made of blued steel.

The movement

The movement is driven by two spring barrels and has a duration of at least eight days. It is regulated by means of an anchor escapement in combination with a silk suspended pendulum. It has half hour striking on a bell by means of a countwheel.

The case

The case was designed and executed by Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1751-1843) who is regarded as one of the best bronziers of his time. The base shape of the clock is a Medici urn with a garland surrounding the bezel. To the sides there are two finely cast and chiseled Caryatids that appear the support the rim of the urn. In the centre there is a Mercury mask with trailing garlands.
The lid consists of a finely foliate pierced rim with a leaf top surmounted by a pine apple. The well shaped stem is lined with an acanthus moulding. The stepped square white marble base is adourned with further gilt bronze mounts and a leaf moulded border. The whole is raised on flat engraved feet.