Very Large Rococo Boulle & Ormolu Bracket Clock

~ Antique French - Circa 1880 ~

~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~

A very large and stunning red Boulle work Rococo bracket clock, almost 3 feet in height. The red shell veneer is delicately inlaid with brass and mounted with fine ormolu. The shape is the classic rococo key hole shape with glazed door to the front and glazed panels to the side, allowing the ormolu pendulum to be seen swinging within. Inside the case, the rear door and the floor of the case are also decorated with Boulle work. The Ormolu mounts (Doré Bronze or fine gilded brass / bronze) are finely modelled and crisply chased with a lovely clean and bright original gilding. To the top is a beautifully large and flamboyant rococo finial.

The dial is ormolu mounted with 24 individual enamel cartouches for the hours and minutes and one to the centre which is signed for the Paris retailer, Binet &Thuret, listed by Tardy Dictionnaire Des Horlogers Francais as working in the Rue Notre Dame de Nazareth in 1870. It is fitted with the original beautifully hand cut and blued steel hands.

The French movement is by Vincenti et Cie and is of the highest quality. It is the large square plated version of the Pendule de Paris movement and has the benefit of rack striking. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. The large ormolu Pendulum is original. It runs for 8 days on one wind and strikes the hours and halves on a coiled gong. Click the video clip below to hear the gong and watch the clock running!

Condition of the case is excellent, the shell veneer is excellent with only very very minor losses. Brass inlay is also excellent, no losses and only some very very slight lifting in places. Ormolu is also excellent, clean, bright. Dial is also excellent with just some slight chipping around the right hand winding. The front door lock is fully working with original key.

Vincenti et Cie clockmakers mark on the movement backplate and the Paris retailer's signature Thuret on the dial.

Complete with original pendulum, door key and the probably original winding key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.