Venus and Putto Playing with a Dog ~ Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Clock ~ Marie-Antoinette ~ French - Circa 1870 ~ ~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~ A stunning ormolu and Sèvres style porcelain clock, after the original clock in Marie-Antoinette's apartment in the Palace of Versailles. Venus is beautifully depicted leaning on a classical column with two doves, two entwined hearts in her left hand. The column is of Paris porcelain in the Sèvres style. To the right of the column, a most charming allegory of loyalty, a young putto playing with a small dog.

The whole rests on an oval base with projections adorned with a frieze of laurels backed with silver plated copper standing on 6 feet with leafy tops. The dial is porcelain on copper with the original beautifully cut gilt hands. The dial is signed in Homage to the 18th century clockmaker Pierre Merra

The French movement is a miniature version of the Pendule de Paris movement by Vincenti and is of high quality with pin-pallet escapement and rack striking. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is a replacement. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. Click the video clip below to hear the bell and watch the clock running!

Condition of the case is excellent, the original gilding is beautifully clean and bright with some wear and discolouration. The dial is also in excellent condition just some wear around the Brocot shaft above the 12 o'clock. Marble base has some cracks / old repairs at the rear. Silver plated copper has some slight tarnish. Porcelain is excellent with no damaged. 

Complete with pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.

Click the movie player below to see the this actual clock run -
(large file, may take a moment to start).