French Rococo Revival Marble Mantle Clock, Late 19th Century

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This French Rococo Revival mantel clock dates to the mid-to-late 19th century, circa 1860–1880, and reflects the period’s balance of … Read more This French Rococo Revival mantel clock dates to the mid-to-late 19th century, circa 1860–1880, and reflects the period’s balance of opulence and architectural form. Designed to function as both a precision timepiece and an ornamental focal point, it features a substantial octagonal case carved from richly variegated red marble, likely Rouge Griotte, prized for its depth of color and natural patterning. Finely worked gilt-bronze mounts enrich the composition, incorporating a decorative crest at the base, cascading grape clusters, and a graceful urn-form finial.

The white porcelain enamel dial is elegantly detailed with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, accented by hand-painted floral swags and a central starburst rosette. The clock is fitted with a spring-driven time-and-strike movement that sounds the hour and half-hour, bearing a brass backplate stamped “P J,” a mark closely associated with P. Japy of the celebrated Japy Frères clockmaking dynasty. Completed with traditional dark-tempered Breguet hands, this pendule de cheminée embodies the refined craftsmanship and decorative prestige of 19th-century Parisian interiors and remains a highly desirable and collectible French antique. See less