French Bronze Figural Mantel Clock with Harp-playing Maiden

A French bronze and ormolu figural mantel clock, late 19th…
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A French bronze and ormolu figural mantel clock, late 19th century, the enamelled Roman numeral dial and count wheel movement striking on one bell, set within a body cast in the form of a mountainous outcrop, surmounted by a figure of a maiden playing a harp, white sheet music and a book at her feet, the lower section with cherub masks and a leaf tip cast apron, raised on scroll cast supports, 37 cm high, 28 cm wide, 10 cm deep.

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  • Ormolu - Ormolu was popular with French craftsmen in the 18th and 19th century for ornamental fittings for furniture, clocks and other decorative items. True ormolu is gilt bronze, that is bronze that has been coated with gold using a mercury amalgam. Due to the health risks associated with using mercury, this method of creating ormolu was discontinued in France in the 1830s. A substitute was developed consisting of about 75% copper and 25% zinc, however it was inferior to the bronze version. It was often lacquered to prevent it tarnishing.
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.

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