This clock set brings together the work of two renowned 19th-century French craftsmen and is embellished with Greek mythological figures and delightful cherubs.
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This exquisite clock set was crafted by Raingo Frères and Jean Jules Salmson (French, 1823–1902). Raingo Frères, established in 1832 by Zacharie Joseph Raingo (1775-1839), was renowned for creating astronomical clocks, one of which was gifted to King George IV and now resides in the Windsor Castle collection. The example from Mayfair Gallery’s collection is complemented by bronzes from Salmson, a prestigious French sculptor whose works were regularly exhibited at the Salon in Paris.
The garniture consists of a central mantel clock and two en-suite eight-light candelabra. Each piece is masterfully crafted from ormolu and white marble, with the cream and gold tones of the materials beautifully complementing one another.
The clock case features a larger central column topped with a finely cast sculptural group. This depicts a pair of bacchantes holding garlands of foliage, with classical vessels and bunches of grapes scattered at their feet. The grapevine garlands cascade down towards two cherubs, who are delicately draping them over large vases. Below the bacchantes, the clock has a white enamel dial inscribed with Arabic and Roman numerals, framed by an acanthus-shaped ormolu mount. The clock sits atop a wide, flared base, raised on twin ormolu recumbent lion feet, adding a decorative touch to the piece.
The two candelabra mirror the design of the clock, each featuring eight scrolled foliate branches emerging from a central acanthus leaf stem, interspersed with bunches of grapes. The stem rises from a marble urn-form support, further adorned with ormolu decoration, held aloft by twin putti. The candelabra rests on stepped marble and ormolu plinths, each supported by four ornate feet.
The clock dial is signed ‘Raingo Frères / Paris’, while the sculptural surmount is signed ‘Raingo Frères’ and ‘J. Salmson’.
With its impressive design and craftsmanship, this superb clock set would make a striking addition to any interior.
Clock: Height 69cm, width 81cm, depth 23cm
Candelabra: Height 80cm, width 34cm, depth 34cm
Reference:
17830
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