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Rare Large Swinging Mystery Clock
by Auguste Louis Mathurin Moreau (1834-1917)

~ French - Circa 1890 ~

~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled and working ~~

A stunning, large and rare swinging mystery clock, please don't mistake this clock for the far more numerous small swinging mystery clocks, this one stands at over 3 ft in height. She is entitled Brise d'Automne (Autumn Breeze) and is by the well known and listed sculptor Auguste Louis Mathurin Moreau. Beautifully modelled in patinated metal and in lovely original condition, she holds the large pendulum aloft which swings gently to-and-fro. The mystery is how the pendulum keeps swinging with no apparent means of momentum.

The secret is that this is a compound pendulum, a small, heavy pendulum swings in harmony inside the bronzed sphere to actuate the movement. The figure is mounted on a bronzed socle with a marbleised wooden base, an applied brass plaque is engraved 'Brise d'Automne par Aug. Moreau (Med d'Or)'.

Auguste Louis Marthurin Moreau was born in Dijon in 1834 and died in Malesherbes in 1917 being the youngest son of sculptor and painter Jean-Baptiste Moreau. He studied under his father and also with Aimé Millet, Augustin Drumont and Jean Thomas. Each of the three Moreau brothers, Hippolyte, Marthurin and Auguste, have become renowned for the quality and the beauty of their figurative work. Auguste himself is particularly known for his Art Noveau style figures with his subjects being primarily young maidens sensuously clad in a swirling diaphanous dress and usually decorated with flowers and birds or allegorical and genre scenes incorporating cupids and young children. His style was realistic and graceful, revealing his relation to the other members of the Moreau family. His compositions encapsulate a feeling of innocence. In 1861 Auguste made his debut at the Salon where he would exhibit regularly until 1913.

The French movement is of high quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. It has the clockmakers mark 'R' on the movement backplate. It runs for 8 days, click the video clip below to watch the clock running!

Condition is excellent, the patinated finish of the figure is in excellent original condition, just some occasional marks or discolouration. The bronzed finish of the pendulum is also excellent, the silver steel rods of the pendulum are very slightly pitted. There is some slight wear to the marbleised wooden base.

Complete a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied. A rare and stunning clock for your collection.

Dimensions of clock:

inches

Height 40", Width 9", Depth 11 1/2"

(overall)

centimetres

Height 102 cm, Width 23 cm, Depth 29 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.

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

Image below is zoom and scrollable, please allow a few moments for it to load and then click on it.