Antique French Louis XVI Period Marble Ormolu Bronze and Porcelain Mantle Clock

This beautiful French Louis XVI period striking and calendrical mantel clock comes from the Paris studio of Henry and Coteau, circa 1790, and has a number of delightful features.  25 x 18.5 x 7.5 in (64 x 47 x 19 cm).  Its form, crafted from carved white marble, is a grotto with shepherd in form of a neoclassical maiden, asleep and surrounded by baby sheep, her hound and flowers crafted from painted porcelain. Decorating the frieze is a relief in ormolu bronze depicting putti in various, industrious endeavors.  Surmounting the rockwork is a cherub with horn, with bronze vinees of porcelain flowers extending to his left and right sides.  The porcelain dial is signed "henry" "A PARIS". Noted in the dial are days of the week, minutes are tracked by the second markings in crimson red. Arabic chapters and day of the week indications with corresponding deity symbols are shown by a double-ended steel pointer. The pointer is chased and ormolu finished. It has an eight day movement with twin barrels, silk suspension and countwheel strike on bell.

According to Christie's, Joseph Coteau (1740-1812) supplied enamelled dials to the greatest clock makers of his era. Born in Geneva, he established his business in Paris in 1772. He was also known as a skilled miniaturist, creating a new method for fixing raised gold on porcelain that led to his work for Sevres.

An identical clock was offered by Christie's in New York on May 20, 2008, in lot 245, and was bought in.

( XV mantel )