Louis XVI style ormolu and marble cercle tournant mantel clock

This beautiful Neoclassical style white marble, ormolu, and patinated bronze mantel clock features an amphora vase shaped case, which is raised by a cylindrical stem above a circular spreading foot. The foot, in turn, is supported by an architectural plinth. The belly of the lustrous white marble vase-form case is mounted with a sequence of ormolu leaves and floral sprays, while the stem and foot below are adorned with similarly classicising ormolu mounts. The plinth is inset with ormolu bas relief plaques portraying scenes of cherubim carousing in an idyllic landscape.

The clock movement, known as a cercle tournant, is comprised of twin cylindrical enamel dials, one enumerated with Roman numeral hour marks and the other with Arabic numeral five-minute marks. The vase shaped case is affixed with twin intertwined serpent handles and is surmounted by an ormolu pomegranate finial. The clock plinth also supports a patinated bronze figure of Cupid, whose outstretched hand wittily serves to indicate the current time. Mars’ ormolu armour, namely a helmet and shield, lies near Cupid’s feet, adjacent to a beautifully rendered ormolu floral swag. The plinth sits atop a grey ormolu base, adorned with stylised Vitruvian scroll motifs, and is raised by four ormolu toupie feet.

This magnificent clock is especially large and is a superb example of late 19th Century French Neoclassicism.