18th Century French Louis XV Lenoir À Paris Floral Cartel Clock & Bracket

Details

Description

An extraordinary and highly decorative French Louis XV style cartel wall clock with matching bracket, bearing the signature “LENOIR / … Read more An extraordinary and highly decorative French Louis XV style cartel wall clock with matching bracket, bearing the signature “LENOIR / A PARIS,” richly executed in hand-painted wood with elaborate gilt-bronze mounts.
Possibly dating to the mid-18th century, circa 1750, this monumental clock exemplifies the elegance and exuberant ornamentation associated with French Rococo decorative arts.
The gracefully contoured wooden case features a deep, nearly black lacquered ground beautifully embellished with hand-painted polychrome floral arrangements, including delicate roses, flowering branches, and botanical sprays in shades of burgundy, soft pink, yellow, ivory, and green.
The richly ornamented case is framed by substantial gilt-bronze mounts, displaying deeply sculpted acanthus leaves, asymmetrical scrollwork, shell motifs, and architectural foliate details. A sculptural animal-form ornament crowns the clock, while the lower section features an elaborate gilt-bronze bird surrounded by curling foliage and pierced Rococo ornament.
Dial and Clockwork
The impressive circular dial is particularly distinguished by its elaborate construction, featuring individual white enamel hour cartouches with bold black Roman numerals, surrounded by smaller enamel plaques displaying Arabic five-minute divisions.
The richly chased gilt-bronze chapter ring is decorated with intricate scrolling foliage and floral ornament, providing a magnificent contrast to the white enamel.
At the center, the dial is prominently inscribed:
“LENOIR”
“A PARIS”
A pair of finely shaped dark metal hands completes the dial. Two winding apertures are visible, consistent with a mechanical movement equipped with separate winding functions.
The Lenoir name is associated with a distinguished family of Parisian clockmakers, including Étienne Le Noir, whose workshop supplied finely crafted clocks during the Louis XV period.
Dimensions Including Bracket:
Height: 55 inches
Width: 19 inches
Depth: 9 inches See less