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Antique French gilt bronze and lapis lazuli mantel clock after Falconet

Offered by: Mayfair Gallery

Description
Antique French gilt bronze and lapis lazuli mantel clock after Falconet
French, 19th Century
Height 63cm, width 26.5cm, depth 26.5cm

French sculptor Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-1791) is the inspiration for this beautiful, sumptuous mantel clock. His clock, crafted in the late 18th Century and now on display at the Louvre Museum, caused such a stir when it was exhibited over 100 years later, at the Great Exhibition in Paris in 1900 that one reviewer claimed that it "attracted so much admiration from the crowds gathered around that the pressure was sufficient at times to endanger its safety."

As well as this famed 'Three Graces' clock, Falconet was also acclaimed as a sculptor working across the Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical styles. He worked as a modeller for the Sevres Porcelain Manufactory and helped to popularise the figural table decorations which accompanied some of their most important dinner services.

This clock is a fabulous 19th Century model of Falconet's original and is most notable for the full length female figures which adorn it, which together represent the Three Graces (youth, mirth, and elegance) of Roman mythology. On Falconet's clock, these were completed in white marble; here, they are opulently finished in gilt bronze.

The clock case itself takes the form of a vase with a 'cercle tournant' enamel dial, mounted with gilt bronze garlands and surmounted by a gilt bronze finial. The rectangular base of the clock is further decorated with a Classical style gilt bronze relief panel. The clock is veneered in lapis lazuli, a rich blue gemstone which has been highly prized since antiquity.

More Information

In the Style of:	Etienne-Maurice Falconet
Origin:	France
Period:	19th Century
Materials:	Lapis Lazuli, Ormolu (Gilt Bronze).
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Dealer Reference #:	15479
Incollect Reference #:	770307

Dimensions

W.	10.43 in;	H.	24.8 in;	D.	10.43 in;
W.	26.5 cm;	H.	63 cm;	D.	26.5 cm;

Message from Seller:

Mayfair Gallery, located in London’s exclusive Mayfair district, specializes in exceptional art and antiques from the 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring works by renowned artists and craftsmen. With a focus on quality and historical importance, our diverse collection unites exquisite pieces that exemplify unparalleled artistry. | jamie@mayfairgallery.com | 44.207.491.3435 |