Magnificent French Bronze Mantel Clock. S.XIX

Magnificent French Mantel Clock in Bronze. S.XIX. It features a decorative Neoclassical style triangular shaped case in gilt bronze, with a marked profusion of engraved vegetal forms and floral garlands in relief running throughout the piece. The case sits on eight turned legs with pearl decoration, on which the quadrangular base is supported. The clock, located in the center, is flanked by two striking lateral spirals and a marked profusion of floral garlands, with the repetition of elaborate and striking roses standing out. The piece is crowned by an original vessel similar to the Greek lekanes, but with the handles much more extended and decorated in the center with two beautiful flowers. White lacquered dial with Roman numerals for the hours in cobalt blue enamel and Arabic numerals for the minutes in black. It features decorative golden hands with Louis XIV style openwork. The manufacturer's name is engraved in the center of the dial: "Au Negre. Sarazin. St. Denis. Paris movement with hour and half-hour chiming. The piece is in perfect working condition, has been overhauled and works as if it were new. The mantel clock comes from the bracket clock or bracket, although this term is a bit confusing, as this type of clocks do not really rest on brackets, but were probably intended to be placed on a table, sideboard or fireplace, as it was in those years the place in the house where the family was usually concentrated. The bracket of the early years had the characteristic that it was portable, which largely conditioned its mechanism, and it would not be until 1800 when the pallet escapement was definitely replaced by the anchor in the bracket clocks, which allowed the development of decorative clocks like this example that undoubtedly besides giving the time decorated the room. The first French examples followed the lines of the Regency style, but later followed other styles with decorative ornaments and embossed as in this case, when in the nineteenth century are carried out in this type of pieces a revival of previous styles (Baroque, Empire, Rococo, Neoclassicism ...) often even mixing them to create a series of very particular and aesthetically very beautiful pieces. Decorative and imposing piece that will fill with majesty the space with each chime. Measures: 35 x 30 x 12 cm.