Ormolu and marble cercle tournant mantel clock after Vion

The clock consists of a white marble, shaped, triangular base upon which three classical, ormolu female nudes stand, holding up a navy blue tole sphere with a white enamel ‘cercle tournant’ dial, topped by an ormolu winged cherub.

Raised up on three ormolu toupie feet, the triform marble base is mounted on its shaped sides with scrolling foliate ormolu forms, and its top is articulated by ormolu beading. The Three Graces—that is, Thalia, Euphrosyne and Aglaea, the daughters of Zeus who represented youth and beauty, mirth, and elegance respectively—stand on top of this base. The three figures have been cast in ormolu and depicted in the nude, with flower garlands in their hair and swags which hang from their hands down around their waists. Together, the Three Graces hold up a dark-coloured sphere featuring a white enamel ‘cercle tournant’ dial with Roman Numerals (for the hours), Arabic numbers (minutes), gilt fleur-de-lis, and a hand which takes the form of an arrowhead. Above and below the dial band, the sphere is mounted with ormolu flowers and plants. A winged ormolu cherub tops the piece, sitting on a cloud-like form and holding a flaming baton up in his left hand.

The piece is inspired by a famous c.1765 design by the French bronzier, François Vion, which similarly depicts the Three Graces linked together and supporting a sphere-shaped clock with an orbit movement. The Vion clock is now on display in the Louvre museum, in Paris, France.