1930s French Marble Clock with Gilt Floral Decorations

A French marble clock, the circa 1930s clock in yellow veined…
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A French marble clock, the circa 1930s clock in yellow veined marble with dark brown contrasting geometrical trims and applied gilt floral decorations, the arching plinth highlighted with gilt pearl trim, Arabic numerals and pierced hands to the floral enamel dial, the bell strike brass movement bearing the maker's mark FC, with key and pendulum, height 26 cm, width 32 cm depth 12 cm

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  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • Pendulum - The pendulum was discovered around 1602 by Galileo Galilei, and was adopted for time keeping by the Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher, Christiaan Huygens, who excelled in astronomy, physics, and horology.

    The pendulum comprises a metal rod usually of brass or steel with a metal disk, known as a bob, at the end. The movement of the pendulum is driven by weights or a spring, and as a pendulum swings in a regular arc, it was found accuracy could be controlled to within a few seconds a week.

    Timekeeping can be adjusted by changing the height of the bob on the rod, making the pendulum either swing slower or faster.

    The disadvantage of the pendulum was that changes in temperature also changed the length of the pendulum, interfering with the accuracy of the clock, and so in the 18th century two types of mercurial pendulums were invented which countered the movement in the steel rod.

    The pendulum was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the invention of the quartz clock, regulated by a quartz crystal, in 1927.
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.

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