Antique Lyre Mantel Clock, 1825

Details

Description

Large lyra pendulum clock with ram’s heads

france
mahogany, bronze
c. 1825

dimensions: h x w x d: 59 x … Read more Large lyra pendulum clock with ram’s heads

france
mahogany, bronze
c. 1825

dimensions: h x w x d: 59 x 28 x 15 cm

a large and exquisitely crafted lyre clock made of mahogany and fire-gilded bronze.

the base stands on feet shaped like ram’s hooves. Supported by acanthus leaves, the lyre rises above it, featuring numerous bronze details. On the front, we see a sun disc held by laurel leaves, whilst further foliage supports the instrument from the outside.
the exceptional quality of the bronze work is particularly evident in the clock’s crown. The ram’s heads are incredibly finely crafted. The chasing makes the fleece, the horns and the headdress seem almost tangible. The outstanding craftsmanship, evident even on the reverse, demonstrates the bronze smith’s attention to detail.

the strings lead downwards to the heart of the clock, a french 8-day movement with a half-hour strike on a bell.
the movement is housed in a fluted drum.
floral and foliage motifs adorn the bronze and fire-gilt dial. The white-enamelled cartouches with arabic numerals and the black breguet hands ensure excellent readability of the time.

personal note:
many collectors of antique clocks attach great importance to the signature on the movement. It is certainly nice to know the clockmaker, enabling one not only to verify the age of the clock on the basis of stylistic and craftsmanship features, but also to find the clockmaker’s biographical details in one of the many directories.
however, clocks such as this one demonstrate that the clockmaker played only a minor role in the overall creation of such a work of art.
there was a draughtsman who designed the clock, a joiner who prepared the timber, and a bronze caster who made the moulds and cast the bronze parts. Chasers added the fine details to the bronze pieces, whilst in the gilding workshops they were given their final lustre and colour. Finally, the clockwork was fitted.
as you can see, it took many hands to create a clock like this\.

this model was also available with an apollo figure as an additional crowning feature.

condition:
a cleaned, absolutely reliable and accurate movement. The fire-gilding on the bronze parts has been cleaned and is in a fantastic original condition. The wood has been hand-polished with shellac and contrasts beautifully with the light gold.

you can find a clock of the same design in the specialist literature:
biedermeiers glück und ende - die gestörte idylle 1815–1848 p. 376, fig. 4.9.8 See less