Second Empire period patinated and gilt bronze three-piece clock set

This three-piece mantel clock set contains a clock and two candelabra. The set was produced c. 1860, during the Napoleon III period, and demonstrates the eclecticism typical to decorative art of this time: the set is influenced by styles current centuries before, from the Baroque of the 17th Century, to the Rococo of the 1700s, to the Neoclassicism of the late 18th and early 19th Century.

The mantel clock features a wedge-shaped body wrought almost entirely from gilt bronze. The clock, which is surmounted by two patinated bronze reclining putti, is raised by four scrolled gilt bronze feet. Moreover, the gilt bronze throughout is cast with detailed decorative motifs, including egg-and-dart friezes, garlands of flowers, and running dog sequences. The clock dial, also of gilt bronze, features Roman numerals, each numeral contained by an individual enamel plaque.

The candelabra are decorated in a conforming manner, being raised on similar bases and ornamented with complementary motifs, including stem-form putti. Each candelabrum issues thirteen gilt bronze scrolled branches, each terminating in a single light.

Clock- Height 55cm, width 77cm, depth 31cm
Candelabra- Height 93cm, width 45cm, depth 45cm