Antique French porcelain, gilt and silvered brass clock set

Antique French porcelain, gilt and silvered brass clock set
French, Late 19th Century
Clock: Height 52cm, width 28cm, depth 17cm
Vases: Height 41cm, width 15cm, depth 11cm
 
This wonderful clock set—which is comprised of a mantel clock and pair of flanking vases—is designed in a fanciful French ‘Oriental’ style. The set is crafted from brass which has been silvered, parcel gilt and painted. The clock is also mounted with porcelain plaques which are beautifully painted with colourful depictions of birds and flowers.
 
The mantel clock is composed of a tall rectangular body with a break arch top which is crowned by a covered twin-handled urn. The urn features a parcel gilt pointed finial on its cover and a silvered body painted with pink cherry blossoms. The urn stands on the arched top of the clock, which is decorated with a sculptural gilt scrollwork band and a gilt foliate border. The arch contains a circular porcelain dial which features a central painting of a pair of birds, encircled by black Roman Numerals within white cartouches. This dial is framed by a gilt beaded bezel. The shoulders of the clock body are mounted with parcel gilt and silvered elephant heads holding ring handles.
 
Porcelain panels decorate the front and sides of the silvered clock body. These panels are beautifully decorated with paintings of colourful birds, butterflies and cherry blossom trees, set within gilt stiff-leaf frames. The clock body is set on a silvered rectangular base which is edged with a parcel gilt foliate band. The front of the base is mounted with a silvered and parcel gilt lion's head mask and flanking painted porcelain plaques. The clock stands on four parcel gilt silvered feet, which are geometric and scrolled in form. 
 
The pair of silvered vases that accompany the clock are of similar design. They feature shaped bodies which are covered with crenelated parcel gilt lids, crowned by pointed parcel gilt finials. The vases’ shoulders are decorated with parcel gilt beading and they are mounted with parcel gilt and silvered elephant masks holding ring handles. The bodies of the vases feature colourful paintings of geometric shapes, as well as birds perched on cherry blossom branches. Gilt stiff-leaf bands encircle the vases’ lower bodies, which are set on stems with gadrooned edges. The vases stand on square plinths raised up on geometric and scrolled feet.