Mid-19th Century French Louis XV Bronze Dore Cartel Wall Clock by Lerolle Freres

$6,900

About

Crafted in Paris, France, circa 1850 and made of bronze, the wall clock features intricate decor in high relief. The pediment has a classic urn shape embellished with pine cone finials, the sides are decorated with acanthus leaves and swag motifs, and the bottom dressed with a mask face. The porcelain dial, made with 12 enamel cartouches, is signed by the maker Lerolle Freres Paris. The French movement is of high quality and is the early version of the Pendule de Paris movement with a silk suspension; it is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clock maker. Pendulum is original with the King Sun decor ( Louis XIV). It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. The large cartel time keeper is in excellent condition with a rich bronze dore finish. Pendulum and winding key included. Weight 45 pounds. Established in 1836 by Louis Lerolle (1813-1875), the bronze foundry was ceded in 1849 to his sons Édouard-François and Camille; after inheriting the family business the firm designated themselves “Fournisseurs de la Cour de Sardaigne”, referring to a silver medal granted to their father for a mantel and console supplied to the King of Sardinia. Lerolle exhibited ornamental clocks, garnitures, chandeliers and candelabras, predominantly gilt-bronze or silvered, at most of the international exhibitions held during the second half of the 19th century, London 1851, New York 1853, Paris 1855 where the firm obtained a First Class Medal in London 1862 and Paris 1867 and 1878. In 1862, Lerolle participated in the Exposition des Beaux Arts Appliqués à l’Industrie and the same year were manufacturing bronzes for the Maison S.A.I. le Prince Napoléon, and the l’Hôtel de la Commission Française. Measures: 16″W x 5″D x 36″H.

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