Early 19th Century Empire Mantel Clock by Ledure with Apollo or Eros
By Claude Hemon, Pierre-Victor Ledure
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed on the enamel dial by the famous Parisian bronzier ”Ledure Bronzier à Paris” and the clockmaker ”Hedon Hr" (horloger). Patinated and fully sculpted bronze figure ...
Bronze
French Restauration Period Ormolu Lyre Mantel Clock with Apollo Mask
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
An unusual French Restauration period ormolu mantel clock. The elaborately pierced gilt bronze case in the form of a lyre, with an Apollo mask cresting, on a white marble stepped bas...
Marble, Bronze
French Early 19th Century Empire Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Claude Galle
By Claude Galle
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Claude Galle, (1759–1815, master in 1786) is one of the most renowned bronziers active during the Napoleonic period, such as Pierre-Philippe Thomire, André-Antoine Ravrio and Louis-S...
Marble, Bronze
Rare Late 18th Century Neoclassical Louis XVI Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The circular white-enameled dial signed ”Detour Paris” with Roman hours and Arabic quarter marks, a further inner Arabic chapter ring for the day of month. Pierced gilt hands and a b...
Marble, Bronze, Enamel
Late 18th Century, French Louis XVI Neoclassical Ormolu Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A very fine Louis XVI period ormolu striking cartel clock “aux guirlandes”, the movement signed on the white enamel by Gille L’Aine, Paris. Pierre II. Gille l’ainé (1723-1784) was th...
Bronze, Enamel
19th Century Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock of a Lion Signed Festeau Le Jeune
By Festeau Le Jeune
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
The clock is signed by the Clockmaker Festeau Le Jeune. The case after a design of François Vion in form of a lion supporting a cylindrical case draped with ribbon tied laurel swags ...
Bronze
Mantel clock from the French Empire early 19th century 'Apollo, playing 58 cm
Located in Berlin, DE
Empire mantle clock, mantel clock, pendulum clock, Restauration era, Neoclassical, antique clock, Ormolu, gilt bronze, French gilt bronze, bronze dorée, gold plated , Apollo, lyre, ...
Gold, Bronze
French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock with Orpheus, circa 1810
Located in Kastrup, DK
French Empire mantel clock in ormolu, decorated with Orpheus with lyre and harp. The dial has a finely decorated ormolu centre, surrounded by white enamel with black Roman numerals....
Bronze
French Empire Troubadour Mantel Clock
By Le Roy
Located in New Orleans, LA
This resplendent French Empire gilt bronze mantel clock features an extraordinarily detailed scene of a singing troubadour with his lyre along a rocky river bank. Accompanied by a wi...
Marble, Bronze
French Empire Clock Depicting Apollo God of Music and the Arts
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A gilt bronze and griotte marble French Empire clock depicting Apollo Greek God of Music Art Literature and Sciences. The clock shows a a gilt bronze winged figure of Apollo leaning against a griotte marble altar pedestal decorated with gilt bronze garlands. At the center of the pedestal is the clock’s dial and movement. Sitting on top of the pedestal is a standing harp, a mallet and a scroll. The whole is supported by a griotte marble base with a gilt bronze frieze showing a number of frolicking and dancing cupids playing music, drinking wine waving laurel wreaths, carrying a standard and even crowning a bust of Athena. The base sits on two owl feet...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
A French Empire gilt and patinated bronze mantle clock 1805-1815 signed 40cm
Located in Berlin, DE
Empire mantel clock / French mantel clock, Flute player / Shepherd, Panpipes / Syrinx, Shepherd's crook, Tree stump, Musical instruments / Trophy, Mythology / Pastoral / Arcadia, Fire-gilt bronze / Ormolu, Patinated bronze, Two-tone / Ormolu and patinated bronze, Empire / Restauration (c. 1805–1820), France / Paris / French antique / Tardy This French mantel clock (*pendule*) from the Empire period (c. 1805–1815) is distinguished by a classic bucolic-mythological motif. signed ""Harvard a Rouen"" Description & Stylistic Features Motif: Depiction of a shepherd or youth playing the flute (possibly representing Daphnis, Pan, or Marsyas). He sits upon a dark-patinated tree stump into which the clock face is set. Attributes: Beside the dial, a pan flute (syrinx) and a shepherd’s crook lean against a branch. Materials & Technique: A combination of fire-gilded bronze (ormolu)—featuring the original matte and burnished gilding—and dark-patinated bronze for the tree trunk and branch. Base: The rectangular gilded base features a fine appliqué depicting musical trophies, grapes, and cornucopiae. The base rests on sculptural feet shaped like goat hooves (faun legs). Dial & Movement: Gilded bronze dial with a guilloché center and Roman numerals. Two winding holes for the French pendulum movement, featuring silk-thread suspension and slide regulation. Classification & Condition Period: French Empire (reign of Napoleon I, c. 1805–1815). Condition: Very fine historical gilding with slight signs of age/patina on the surface of the base. The contrast between the fire-gilded figure and the dark patina of the tree is characteristic of high-quality Parisian bronze work from this era. This is an absolutely breathtaking piece! What you have before you is a classic French mantel clock from the Empire era (or the Restoration period), likely dating from the early to mid-19th century (approx. 1810–1830). These clocks are renowned for their first-class craftsmanship, combining precise timekeeping with exquisite, allegorical sculptures.The Figure: The gilded figure depicts a young man—presumably Apollo. The Scene: He sits upon a dark, patinated bronze base shaped like a tree stump or a rock formation, into which the clock’s dial is set. The Details: To his left (to our right), a pan flute (Syrinx) can be discerned leaning against the tree, accompanied by a shepherd’s staff or walking stick. The Frieze: The gilded relief on the rectangular base features a beautiful composition of an antique-style urn, horns, ribbons, and grapevines, further underscoring the Bacchic or pastoral theme. 1. Clockmaker & Provenance (Movement & Signature) Clockmaker: Havard Location: Rouen (Normandy, France) Classification: Havard was a clockmaker and goldsmith based in Rouen. During the Consulate and Empire periods (c. 1800–1815), renowned Parisian bronze foundries supplied fine cases to prominent clockmakers in the French provinces, who then completed the pieces with their own movements and signed dials. 2. Art Historical Classification (Style & Motif) Period: French Empire / Reign of Napoleon I (c. 1805–1815). Theme / Motif: Bucolic / pastoral-mythological depiction of a flute-playing shepherd (Daphnis or Attis/Pan theme). Material/Execution: Fire-gilded bronze (ormolu) combined with brown/black patinated bronze (tree stump, foliage). Base featuring musical trophy appliqués and goat-hoof feet. Standard literature and reference works for identifying French mantel clocks from this period: Standard Reference Works Elke Niehüser: *Die französische Bronzeuhr – Tabernakeluhr, Figuranduhr, Wanduhr, Cartel, Commode, Standuhr*. Callwey, Munich 1997. (The standard work on the typology and iconography of figurative Empire-style bronze clocks) Hans Ottomeyer / Peter Pröschel: *Vergoldete Bronzen – Die Bronzen des Spätbarock und Klassizismus*. 2 volumes, Klinkhardt & Biermann, Munich 1986. (Reference work on Parisian bronze makers, fire gilding, the art of chasing, and casting models) Jean-Dominique Augarde: *Les Ouvriers du Temps – La pendule française du Louis XIV à Napoléon Ier*. Antiquorum, Geneva 1996. (Comprehensive work on clockmakers, bronze casters, and manufacturing techniques) Pierre Kjellberg: *Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XIXe Siècle*. Éditions de l'Amateur, Paris 1997. (Chronological overview with numerous comparative illustrations) Tardy (Henri-Léon Tardy): *Les Plus Belles Pendules Françaises*. Tardy, Paris. (Monumental standard work organized by period and motif) Specialized Literature & Directories Tardy: *Dictionnaire des Horlogers Français*. Tardy, Paris 1971–1972. (Reference work for identifying clockmaker signatures on dials or movements) Gérard L'Épaux: *Pendules Empire...
Gold
Antique French Empire Patinated and Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique French Empire patinated and gilt bronze mantel clock French, early 19th century Measures: Height 55cm, width 43cm, depth 13cm This fine Empire period mantel clock is wro...
Bronze, Ormolu
