Antique French Louis XVI Marble and Ormolu Portico Clock

~ French - Circa 1900 ~

~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~

A beautiful Antique French portico clock retailed by the famous Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co of Regent Street, London. It is of the classical style of Louis XVI, made of white marble mounted with ormolu (finely gilded bronze). The movement is held aloft on four marble pillars with the ormolu sunburst pendulum swinging gently below.

Email Julie@dragon-antiques.com
or call ++44 1773 829629 to reserve

~~ or ~~

£2450 English Pounds Sterling

Shipping within UK £25

Shipping to USA / Europe £125 by air fully insured

World wide shipping - £165 by air fully insured

stock code:

RSC3356

To the top is a finial of cupids flaming torch and quiver of arrows and between the pillars are swags of flowers. The dial is prettily painted with floral swags between the numbers on porcelain enamel. It is complete with it's original finely fretted gilt brass hands.

The French movement is of high quality and is by Richard et Cie. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is original. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. Click the video to hear the bell and watch the clock running.

Condition of the ormolu is excellent, beautifully clean and bright some slight discolouration and wear. The dial is also in excellent condition with some small nibbles to the winding holes. The retailers signature is slightly rubbed. Marble has a good polish and has mellowed to a lovely cream colour. There are some slight nibbles to the edges and a chip to the top left hand side.

Richard et Cie was founded in Paris in 1848 (as Lemaitre & Bergnann), adding a London branch at 24 Cannon Street in 1867 which traded as Richard & Co. They advertised as offering "French antique clocks and carriage clocks (own make)" - going out of their way to stress "All Own Made Goods are of Guaranteed Quality and bear our Trade Mark". Their full trademark comprises an R and C with entwined snakes in between, enclosed in an oval.

William Gibson (d. 1913) and John Lawrence Langman (1846 - 1928) established the Goldsmith and Silversmith Co in 1880. The firm was active at 112 Regent Street, London acquiring the premises previously used by John Joseph Mechi. In 1893, the firm absorbed The Goldsmiths' Alliance Ltd (late A.B. Savory & Sons) and in 1898 became the Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd being active as jewellers, dealers in diamonds and precious stones, silversmiths, electroplaters and watch and clock makers. The firm and participated in a number of national and international exhibitions: Indian and Colonial Exhibition (London, 1886), Paris (1889), Chicago (1893), California (1894), Paris (1900) and Franco-British Exhibition (London, 1908). The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co was active with manufactories at Newcastle Place, Clerkenwell; Regent Works, Sheffield and Rue St George, Paris and as retailer of items supplied by various British gold and silver manufacturers (Martin Hall & Co Ltd, W&G Sissons, Wakely & Wheeler, William Comyns, Harrison Brothers & Howson, etc.)

Richard & Cie of Paris mark on the movement back plate.

Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company signature on the dial

Complete with original pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.

Dimensions of clock:	inches	Height 17 1/2", Width 12", Depth 5 1/2"
	centimetres	Height 44.5 cm, Width 30.5 cm, Depth 14 cm

About us - All of our clocks are original antiques, we source most of our clocks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. We prefer to buy our clocks in original 'dirty' condition. We then clean the cases using a technique we have developed over many years. We employ two qualified clockmakers who overhaul the movements. Movements are thoroughly tested until we are satisfied that they will run trouble free.

Click the movie player below to see the this actual clock run -
(large file, may take a moment to start).