Ormolu and Sevres style porcelain clock set by Charles Oudin

Charles Oudin in Paris is one of France's oldest and most acclaimed clockmaking firms, revered throughout the 19th Century for their exceptionally-crafted and technologically advanced luxury clocks and clock sets. The firm would receive numerous awards at several of the Great Exhibitions, as well as important commisisons from royalty and nobility all over Europe.

This stunning clock set is a typical example of the beautiful design and technological complexity of the firm's 19th Century clocks. The set consists of a central clock and a pair of flanking candelabra.

The central ormolu clock case is of an unusual oval-shape and contains two dials: a Roman numeral clock dial, above a date and month dial with the astronomical signs and the moon phases also shown. On the reverse, the clock movement is signed 'Ches Oudin / Paris. / 8242 17 1'. The two dials are joined by porcelain plaques decorated with putti, and the clock case is mounted at either side with ormolu rams' heads and surmounted by an ormolu urn.

The clock case is supported by two ormolu putti on an oval shaped ormolu base, draped with oval-shaped garlands and acanthus leaves. The base is set with shaped floral porcelain plaques in the Sevres style and stands on toupie feet.

The pair of candelabra are similarly decorated with floral porcelain plaques, and are formed as ormolu putti shown supporting five foliate lights on scrolling branches. The intricacy of the bronze casting of the candelabra, as with the central clock, represents craftsmanship of the very finest quality.
The dimensions of the individual items are as follows:

Clock- Height 52cm, width 43cm, depth 16.5cm
Candelabra- Height 57cm, width 30cm, depth 27cm