Large and rare Louis XVI style ormolu bracket clock by Planchon

This beautiful Louis XVI bracket clock features an innovative design that combines porcelain and radiant ormolu mounts, with a rare, complex mechanism and dial by French clockmaker Mathieu Planchon.

Modelled in the Louis XVI style, it bears a single fly back hand on a porcelain dial which bears Roman numerals, and is decorated with flowers and an outdoor lake scene with architectural ruins. The dial, showing half a face, has a mechanism that travels from the six on the right back to the left hand side, in an innovative design that is typical of Planchon, a highly skilled clockmaker known for his creativity and horological mastery.

It is signed 'Planchon Paris', and set within an arched gilt bronze case that features elaborate Rococo style floral decoration. It is centred by a garland below, and is mounted on hoof-feet. A similar bracket below, which mounts the clock to the wall, is also detailed with a foliate ribbons and garlands, beneath a small table surface with a vine shaped frieze and a trellis lattice between a pair of columns. The movement is also stamped for Planchon. Both an example of oustanding antique clockmaking, and wonderful metalwork and decorative arts, it is a rare and beautiful nineteenth century timepiece.