Sèvres style porcelain and gilt bronze mantel clock

Sèvres style porcelain and gilt bronze mantel clock
French, late 19th Century
Height 47cm, width 25cm, depth 12cm
 
This beautiful mantel clock has been designed in an 18th-Century Rococo style, which was popularised by the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory. The clock has been expertly cast in bronze and gilded, then set with intricately-painted porcelain plaques.  
 
The clock is composed of an arched rectangular case, which stands on a wide stepped base, on toupie feet. The clock is crowned by a classical gilt bronze (ormolu) vase which is draped with fruit swags.
 
At the centre of the case, there is a circular porcelain dial which is painted ‘bleu celeste’ (turquoise) and has a white centre, featuring colourful depictions of flowers and the signature ‘Bertin A Paris’. The dial is parcel gilt and features an outer white band which contains black Roman Numeral hours and gilt Arabic Numeral minutes. The dial is displayed behind a glass lens, within a gilt bronze beaded bezel. Parcel gilt ‘bleu celeste’ porcelain plaques, painted with colourful flower trails, decorate the arch and sides of the clock case. The panel directly beneath the dial features a painting of a young boy, holding a bird in an outdoor setting, within a parcel gilt ‘bleu celeste’ border. These porcelain plaques are framed by gilt bronze bands, variously decorated with beading, egg-and-dart, guilloche and bead-and-reel patterns.
 
The clock case stands on a base, with a fluted gilt bronze top and bottom. The base is mounted with ‘bleu celeste’, parcel gilt porcelain plaques, decorated with colourful depictions of exotic birds. The base is set on gilt bronze toupie feet, which are encircled by beading and stylised foliage.