Large Historicism/Gründerzeit pendulum mantel clock featuring the goddess Ceres, circa 1870
Key facts
- Style
- Historicism
- Production time
- around 1870
Description
Large Historicism/Gründerzeit-style pendulum mantel clock from Paris, featuring Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, circa 1870 Opulently designed zinc (Regule, Spelter) case with lavish decoration; the plinth features two profiled medallions, with two putti to the right and left, a fence-like structure in the background, and a large figure of Ceres on the right holding a sickle and a sheaf of wheat. The original gilding is still partially preserved (the fence, the lower half of the plinth, the clock case and the back); the rest was so heavily worn that only the copper layer or the zinc was visible (it has been coated very thinly with a special gold lacquer, which closely resembles the original gold tone but stands out slightly due to the lighting); the clock was heavily soiled with nicotine, which was carefully removed (using a special steam cleaner) and thoroughly cleaned (with soapy water). The stains and blisters are caused by copper leaching from the zinc (typical of this type of clock). Despite the many delicate decorative parts, the case is virtually undamaged; however, three small balls are missing from the small front strip below the plinth, and two small decorative elements are also missing from the small vase-shaped finial (above the right and left chain attachments). The functioning movement, with spring suspension and hook escapement, runs for about one week and strikes the half and full hours on a bell; it has been fully overhauled and reset, and is unmarked. The gilded dial, featuring blue enamel cartouches and white Roman numerals, is undamaged apart from minor chips at the edges of the cartouches and some wear to the gilding. Dimensions: Height: 48 cm Width: 44.5 cm Depth: 19 cm The key, pendulum and a bell are included in the offer.