Napoleon III period Sèvres style mantel clock by Kreisser

This mantel clock is formed from an ormolu (gilt bronze) mounted porcelain vase. The parcel gilt porcelain vase features a bleu celeste ground in the manner of Sèvres with a gadrooned lower body and a neck ornately painted with a floral frieze. The centrally mounted enamel dial is inscribed with Roman numeral hour marks and Arabic numeral five-minute marks and includes pierced gilt metal hands. The dial is encompassed by an ormolu drum, which is mounted with an ormolu draped garland and surmounted by an ormolu tied bow.

The vase is flanked by ormolu twin handles that take the form of intertwined snakes. These handles spring from the bottom of the porcelain vase, wind their way up along each side, and reattach at the shoulder. The porcelain vase is surmounted by an ormolu finial composed of a pair of love birds courting atop a floral bouquet. The vase sits upon a fluted and waisted ormolu socle, which in turn stands upon a rectangular ormolu base that is raised on four exaggeratedly scrolled acanthus leaf feet.

The enamel dial is signed ‘Kreisser Bte A Paris’ and the movement is stamped ‘Medaille D’Argent Vincenti & Cie’ and with the inventory number '1452'.

The firm of Edouard Kreisser saw significant success during its years of operation. Kreisser’s patrons included King Louis Philippe, who purchased a jardinière from the firm in 1845, and Queen Victoria, who purchased three pieces during her visit to the 1855 Universelle Exposition in Paris. Two of these pieces, which were given to Prince Albert as gifts, are now held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.