Napoleon III Boulle Bracket Clock with Gilt Bronze Mounts

An impressive Napoleon III boulle bracket clock, 19th century,…
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An impressive Napoleon III Boulle bracket clock, 19th century, the large straight sided case and bracket in a French Regence style with opulent gilt bronze mounts, tortoiseshell veneered and inlaid with scrolling brass, the cresting surmounted with a figure of chronos, the glazed door with pierced decoration of Venus and cupid in a chariot above a Bacchus mask, enclosing an 11-inch Roman numeral enamel cartouche dial engraved with outer count wheel, with bell striking anchor movement, raised on scroll feet surmounted by plumed female masks, the conforming bracket with female mask corner mounts, with key and pendulum. Length 148 cm, width 53 cm, depth 26 cm

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  • 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.
  • Tortoiseshell - Tortoiseshell is a translucent material that comes from the horny carapace of a certain types of turtles, including the hawksbill turtle. It is often therefore mounted on a colour underground - often red - or inlaid with gold or silver thread, as seen in Boulle furniture.

    The texture and colour nuances of the material are extremely important. Heated tortoiseshell can easily be formed into various shapes. Like other natural materials, tortoiseshell becomes more beautiful with use. In a time before plastic, tortoiseshell was widely used for small objects such as combs and powder compacts.

    In 1973, the trade of tortoiseshell worldwide was banned under CITES (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Prior to importing or exporting items containing tortoiseshell a CITES permit must be obtained. Tortoiseshell items cannot be traded on Ebay.

    "Faux tortoiseshell", another case of man initiating nature, is made from old-style plastics such as celluloid and cellulos and is coloured with red, yellow and brown spots to imitate the genuine article. It is commonly used in glasses frames, musical instruments and costume jewellery.
  • Cartouche - An ornamental panel in the form of of a shield, oval or rectangular scroll with curling edges. It may be carved into the back of a chair or the top of a sideboard, or present on a piece of silver or jewellery, and contain the initials of the original owner, heraldic symbols, or some other inscription, such as the details of a presentation.

    In ceramics the term defines the central area of a vase or similar with a decorative border in one of the shapes above, into which a decorative scene or figures have been painted.
  • Boulle - Boulle work is the name given to tortoiseshell and metal inlay using brass and sometimes silver, found on furniture and smaller wooden objects. It originated in Italy but was developed by Frenchman Andre Charles Boulle (1642 - 1732) under Louis XIV.

    Boulle was appointed Royal Cainet Maker to Louis XIV and designed furniture and clockcases for the monarch.

    In preparation, the tortoiseshell and metal were cut together following a design, using a fine fret saw.

    In the application of the Boulle, the carcase of piece of furniture was covered with the tortoiseshell which in turn was inlaid with the matched designs in metal, which in turn was elaborately engraved.

    The use of Boulle work furniture continued mainly in France until the 19th century.
  • Cupid Motif - The Cupid motif, which features the Roman god of love and desire, Cupid, was a popular decorative element in classical ornamentation. Cupid was often depicted as a winged, naked baby with a bow and arrow, and was often used to symbolize love and desire.

    In classical art and architecture, Cupid motifs were often used as decorative elements on furniture, such as on the legs of chairs and tables, as well as on architectural elements such as friezes and pediments. They were also used as decorative elements in frescoes, mosaics, and other forms of art.

    During the Renaissance, Cupid motifs were often incorporated into the decoration of palaces, churches and other grand buildings, as they were seen as symbols of love and fertility. Cupid motifs were also commonly used in the decorative arts of the Baroque period, often appearing in the form of putti, which are small winged cherub figures.

    In addition to their decorative use, Cupid motifs were also believed to hold symbolic meaning, as they were thought to evoke feelings of love, desire, and fertility.
  • Aphrodite / Venus - In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire and beauty, whilst in Roman mythology she is called Venus.
  • 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.
  • Chronos - Sometimes used as a decoration on clocks, chronos, also known as "Father Time", is the Greek god of time. He is usually depicted as an elderly bearded man, winged and wearing a robe or loin-cloth, and with a scythe or sickle, and hourglass. It has been said the Chronos was derived from the Greek god of agriculture, Cronus, and the Greeks confused their word for time, "chronos", with their god of agriculture who had a sickle as an attribute..
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
  • Bacchus Motif - The Bacchus motif is a design that features the Roman god Bacchus, who is the god of wine, parties, and celebration. Bacchus is often depicted as a young man with long hair and a beard, holding a bunch of grapes or a wine cup. The Bacchus motif is often used in art and design as a symbol of abundance, revellery, and enjoyment. It can be found on a variety of decorative items, including glassware, ceramics, and other home decor items. The Bacchus motif represents the joy and celebration that can be found in social gatherings and the pleasures of good food and drink.

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