Ormolu and champlevé enamel mounted red onyx pedestal clock

This beautiful pedestal clock is a superb example of late 19th Century French eclecticism: its stylistic influences are broad, including the Neoclassicism in the form of the ormolu mounts, the Renaissance in the shape of the clock itself, and Islamic art and architecture in the champlevé enamel adornments, the swirls of which recall arabesques, while the stalactite-like apron resembles muqarnas.

The clock, which is crafted from red onyx, is raised on a pyramidal frustum base, which is mounted with finely cast ormolu. The central rectangular column of the clock is set with ormolu borders to the corners and a fine classicising mount to the front. The clock case itself features a white enamel dial inscribed with stylised Arabic numerals and decorated to the centre with geometrical champlevé enamel designs. Each side of the case features a superb roundel profusely adorned with polychrome enamels, while the drop apron below the case is similarly decorated. The case is surmounted by a flared entablature, topped with a plateau of red marble, which allows the clock to function as a pedestal.