Large Boulle Marquetry Cartel Balthazard A Paris 19th Century Napoleon III

Impressive French wall cartel clock from the Napoleon III period (Second Empire, second half of the 19th century). It features Boulle marquetry of red tortoiseshell and engraved brass, with a sleek and elegant form richly embellished with finely chiseled gilt bronze mounts.

The gilt bronze decoration notably includes two caryatids flanking the case, a female figure with a dog, a Sun God mask, and a winged angel with a trumpet crowning the clock.

The ornamental dial has enamel cartouche numerals and gilt bronze adornments, and is signed « Balthazard à Paris ».

The original movement is in working order; the clock is complete and in very good condition.

This timepiece is a perfect illustration of the eclectic Second Empire style under Napoleon III, which revived the great styles of previous centuries. The Boulle marquetry technique (tortoiseshell and brass inlay), popularized in the 17th century by the royal cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle, was brought back into fashion during the 19th century. Likewise, the sumptuous gilt bronze ornamentation with mythological and allegorical figures (classical caryatids, a triumphant angel, and an Apollo sun mask) reflects the era’s taste for opulence inspired by the art of the « Grand Siècle » (Louis XIV’s reign).

Dimensions:
Height: 128 cm
Width: 35 cm
Depth: 18 cm