Early Antique French Portico Clock

~ French - Circa 1830 ~

~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~

An early and superb original antique French portico clock. Beautifully patinated bronze mounted with ormolu (fire gilded bronze or bronze doré) The movement and dial are suspended below the portico between the four Doric columns. The large faux temperature compensating pendulum swings below. The magnificent dial is modelled in ormolu with a deep bezel of acanthus and lotus leaves and engine turned centre. It has the clockmakers signature Tarault, Faubourg, Saint Honoré, Paris inscribed between the winding holes. The top has a foliate moulded pediment and dentil moulded cornice. Both the base and top are applied with anthemion florets centred by a flower head. It sits on engine turned bun feet. The ormolu is of fine quality with a beautiful original gild and the bronze has a lovely mellow patination.

The French movement is of high quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. The clockmaker Tarault is listed in Tardy's Dictionnaire Horloger. The pendulum is original and is faux temperature compensating with bi-metal rods. Click the video clip below to hear the bell and watch the clock running!

Condition of the case is excellent, the bronze has a lovely original patination that has mellowed over time. There are occasional marks, discolorations as you would expect. Ormolu is also in excellent condition, original gilding that has also mellowed with age and is not over clean. This is a superb, original, early clock ready for your collection. 

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