A French black marble mantel clock garniture, circa 1880s, with…
click the photo to enlarge
A French black marble mantel clock garniture, circa 1880s, with movement by Vincenti, having a fine enamel dial with Arabic numerals and a visible escapement set within a gilt bezel and drum head above volutes and pillars flanking a glazed panel showing the mercury filled pendulum, on a moulded plinth base and having rosso antico marble detailing, the tazze conforming. Height 52 cm. Width 42 cm. Depth 17.5 cm. Tazze height 20 cm.

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bezel - On a clock or watch, the bezel is the metal frame into which the watch or clock glass is fitted. In clocks, the bezel may include a hinge and a flange, in effect a door to the face of the clock. In jewellery the bezel is a band of metal with a projecting lip that holds the gemstone in its setting.
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

French Gerbe d'or marble mantle clock garniture with black & red mottled accents & having a round, bell strike movement with open escapement on the dial. The Ellicot's compensting style pendulum swings behind a heavy pane of beveled glass in a brass frame.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A French black marble clock garniture, circa 1880, with a drum head and reeded pilasters in contrasting red and grey marble, the central bevelled glazing displaying a mercury filled pendulum and the enamel dial with Arabic numerals and escapement, the whol

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Antique French clock garniture set, approx 48 cm high (3)

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A French black marble clock garniture, late 19th century, with maker's mark F C, a drum head with visible brocot escapement and an enamel chapter ring with Arabic numerals set within a gilt bezel, above central bevelled glazing displaying a mercury filled

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.