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Huge Antique French
Ormolu Baroque Clock Set by Maison Bagues, Paris
~ French
- Circa 1890 ~
~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~
A superbly made and very large (30" in height) antique French clock set by the famous
Maison Baguès of Paris. Beautifully and substantially modelled and
finished and with a lovely original gild. The finely fretted panel of acanthus
and a winged cherub to the front is backed with an ebonised panel.
twisted columns supported by winged mythical creatures with hairy paws make up
the four corners. To the top is a goddess mask and a soaring elaborate finial.
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Candelabra have eight lights supported by scrolling arms, beautifully detailed
with goddess masks. The rear of the set is also finely finished, the clock has a
glazed rear door allowing the movement to be seen. The set is compete with it's
original suite of ebonised gesso bases.
The dial is also ormolu, fretted with an ebonised back, 12 individual enamel cartouches
and blued steel hands.
The French movement is of high quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. The backplate is stamped with the
Baguès movement mark. Pendulum is a original also with the
Baguès movement mark. 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!
The mark of CHLES MT is found on the movement backplate, the
pendulum and the bezel of the clock and the movement is certainly original to
the case. Other clocks of this age with the CHLES MT mark have been found with
the Eugène Baguès to the dial. This together with the superb
quality of the set give us confidence that the set is by the great bronze
founder.
Maison
Baguès was founded in 1860 as a specialist in
liturgical bronzes. Eugène Baguès took over from his father Noël
in 1880 and expanded into the production of bronze light fixtures, clocks and
high quality interior elements. The company gained and international reputation, expanding the company’s operation to New York, Rome and Cairo. Noted for their high end hand crafted work, such as complex carved sconces and hand-strung crystal chandeliers, Maison Baguès appealed to an elite clientele. While Baguès’ Art Deco crystal lighting fixtures drew the most attention, the company was also known for bespoke metalwork that drew commissions from important interior designers and decorating firms such as Maison Jansen and Raymond Subes. The idiosyncratic genius Armand-Albert Rateau used Maison Baguès accessories to decorate the interiors of Jeanne Lanvin’s town home in 1928. Maison Baguès products have also been featured in luxury hotels like Paris's George V, and the Savoy in London.
The company continues today. (1stdibs).
The mark CHLES MT is found on clocks signed Eugene Bagues to the dial.
Listed in Tardy Dictionnaire Des Horlogers Francois as working at 31 Rue des
Francs-Bourgeois, Paris in 1880.
Condition of the case is
excellent, the original gilding is beautifully clean and bright with hardly any
wear or discolouration and there are no losses. The dial is also in excellent
with no damage. Candelabra are slightly distorted and the drip
pans and sconces have small holes, where the set has once been fitted for
electric light. Gesso bases have some losses to the edges.
CHLES MT mark on the movement backplate
Complete with pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up
instructions supplied if required.
Dimensions of clock:
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inches |
Height 27 1/2", Width 11 1/2", Depth 9" |
overall including base |
centimetres |
Height 70 cm, Width 29 cm, Depth 23 cm |
Dimensions of candelabra:
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inches |
Height 30", Width 9", Depth 9" |
overall including bases |
centimetres |
Height 76 cm, Width 23 cm, Depth 23 cm |
About us
- All of our clocks are original antiques, we source most of our clocks in
France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. We prefer to buy our clocks in
original 'dirty' condition. We then clean the cases using a technique we have
developed over many years. We employ two qualified clockmakers who overhaul
the movements. Movements are thoroughly tested until we are satisfied that they
will run trouble free.
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