A French late Empire ormolu mounted portico mantel clock with oscillating movement, circa 1825.

Description

Gilt bronze

The first thing that strikes us when we see this clock is the attractively designed architectural case with its beautifully cast and chiselled gilt bronze mounts. This visual attraction is enhanced by the contrast of the shiny gilt mounts with the darker mahogany. But the most striking feature by far is the swinging movement that causes joy and curiosity to many that see it. Suspended from the elegant classical case is the pendulum with a large bob, which, in this case, is the dial and movement. It uses the power of this movement to swing. This pendulum is actually compensated for temperature changes, so it is pretty accurate as well. And because the case is made with gilt bronze mounts with different surface treatments, the
clock starts to shimmer and glimmer in the light. This enhances the beauty of the design even more and turns this beautifully designed clock into a fascinating object that is much more than just a timekeeper.

Gilt brass dial

The guilloché engraved gilt brass dial has Roman numerals and is signed Delaunoy Eleve de Breguet. The Breguet hands are made of blued steel. The dial is surrounded by a bezel decorated with flowers.

Pinwheel escapement

The movement is mounted in a compensated pendulum with a knife-edge suspension. It is driven by two spring barrels and has a duration of at least eight days. It is regulated by pinwheel escapement. The clock strikes the hours and half hours by means of a countwheel on a bell.

Mahogany

The architectural mahogany case has a moulded stepped cresting with ormolu mounts. This cresting is supported by two beautiful conical columns with further ormolu capitals and bases. The rectangular base base is raised on flat gilt feet and has a beautiful pierced foliate mount on the front.

Delaunoy

Delaunoy was a pupil of the famous Abraham Louis Breguet. He is registered as working in Rue Meslay from 1830 to 1840, in Rue N.D. de Nazareth in 1840 and in Rue Croix des Petits Champs in 1870.