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Antique French gilt bronze, marble and tole revolving dial clock

Creator: François Vion
Offered by: Mayfair Gallery

Description
Antique French gilt bronze, marble and tole revolving dial clock
French, 19th Century
Height 63cm, width 27cm, depth 27cm

This exquisite mantel clock was designed in the 19th Century in France, inspired by an earlier model by François Vion, a famous Parisian metalworker of the 18th Century. In this design, as in Vion’s, the Three Graces are depicted holding up a spherical clock with a revolving, or ‘cercle tournant’, dial. Vion’s clock was an innovative piece of decorative art, and it is now permanently on display at the Louvre museum in Paris.

This clock stands on a shaped, triangular base, which has been crafted from white marble, set on gilt bronze toupie feet. The base is decorated with scrolling, gilt bronze mounts and beading. The Three Graces — the classical personifications of youth and beauty, merriment and elegance — stand on this platform, and together hold up the spherical clock. The Graces are pictured as beautiful, young women, seen in the nude. They also hold heavy flower garlands in their hands, which hang in between them, and loop around their waists, linking the three figures together. The clock above them has been crafted from tole, painted dark blue and mounted with floral gilt bronze motifs. The revolving white enamel dial features Roman Numerals and Arabic numbers. Sitting on top of the clock is a gilt bronze winged cherub, possibly Cupid himself, the god of erotic love.

This clock is not only a wonderful piece of design — with its clever ‘cercle tournant’ dial — it is also an exquisite piece of decorative art, displaying gilt bronze sculpture of the highest quality.

Artist/Maker: (after) Vion

More Information

Documentation:	Documented elsewhere (similar item)
Origin:	France
Period:	19th Century
Materials:	Enamel, Marble, Ormolu, Tole.
Styles / Movements:	Traditional
Dealer Reference #:	15420
Incollect Reference #:	616407

Dimensions

W.	10.63 in;	H.	24.8 in;	D.	10.63 in;
W.	27 cm;	H.	63 cm;	D.	27 cm;

Message from Seller:

Mayfair Gallery is a leading gallery in the field of art and antiques, holding a large collection of unique pieces for sale. The breadth of the gallery’s collection is wide, and includes items from a range of periods, styles and geographical origins, as well as works by famous artists and craftsmen. The main focus of the gallery’s collection is, however, on items produced during the 19th and early 20th century.