Louis XVI Style French Mantel Clock in Gilded Bronze

Description

Sumptuous and elegant clock in French gilded bronze in Louis XVI style; the decorations that surround the rectangular base are … more Sumptuous and elegant clock in French gilded bronze in Louis XVI style; the decorations that surround the rectangular base are rich and showy; above it is represented a graceful maiden who looks smugly at two small birds in the nest and stretches their hands, a gentle and graceful representation; the two birds were originally colored; the whole work was carried out by an expert Master goldsmith in France between 1810 and 1815. The procedure was that of the lost wax bronze casting of the various elements, which were then chiseled with extraordinary skill and delicacy to create finely varied surfaces; to finish it all was proceeded with mercury gilding or fire gilding, in which a solution of mercury nitrate is applied to a piece of copper, brass or bronze; followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The object is then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury vaporizes and the gold remains, adhering permanently to the metal object; artifacts of this type reached their maximum artistic and technical development just in France; the processing was very complex and extremely harmful and dangerous for the operators, in fact circa 1830 the French legislation prohibited its use for health reasons; this type of gilding has an exceptional resistance to wear, not like the gilding made after 1830 with the galvanic method! The clock, with double winding, has a gray dial decorated with fine engravings (with time, light spots have formed on its surface), Arabic numerals, hands are authentic, very particular is that of the hours, is also equipped with its original key; the mechanism is intact but must be checked and oiled by a watchmaker. Our watch is a beautiful example of the Louis XVI style that is characterized by its Classic and sober lines, created with harmony and proportionable to give the entire furniture an elegant and refined air. Measures width cm.29, depth cm.12, height cm.32. less