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french-empire-gilt-bronze-ormolu-urn-striking-mantel-antique-clock-thomire-medici-paris

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.

Sizes

(Height) 56 cm (Width) 21 cm (Depth) 20 cm
(Height) 22 in (Width) 8.3 in (Depth) 7.9 in

Price

sold

Signature

Thonissen

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