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Clock And Candlestick Caryatid Watchmaker: Mougin
A complete gilt bronze clock set, dating from
the Napoleon III period around 1860, stamped by the clockmaker "Mougin"
and referenced in Tardy's dictionary of French clockmakers. The design
of this clock set fully illustrates the decorative vocabulary of
18th-century France, amplifying it with an ornamental richness
characteristic of the Napoleon III era.
The clock features an architectural composition in the form of an antique vase, resting on a serpentine base with scalloped sides, lavishly decorated on the front and back with vegetal friezes, garlands, and finely chiseled draperies. The central body is enlivened by two imposing female figures in the round, forming caryatids. Draped in the classical style, they extend their arms into foliate scrolls that transform into structural supports, thus merging function and ornament according to a principle inherited from the Louis XVI style, revisited by the 19th century. The modeling of the faces, with their idealized and serene features, reflects a Neoclassical inspiration, while the profusion of scrolls and foliage conveys the decorative exuberance characteristic of the Second Empire.
The enamel dial, delicately adorned with polychrome floral garlands, is set within a bezel decorated with water leaves and pearls, framed by sculpted plant motifs in relief and protected by a domed glass.
The upper section rises into an architecturally structured lid crowned by a striking bouquet of acanthus leaves, forming a sculptural finial that accentuates the overall verticality.
The candelabra faithfully reproduce this formal vocabulary to create a perfectly homogeneous ensemble. Their central stem, emerging from an urn similar to that of the clock, is supported by similar female figures, ensuring iconographic unity. The candle arms unfold in asymmetrical, leafy scrolls, supporting finely molded candle holders reminiscent of vegetal corollas. The slender lines contrast with the richness of the chased decoration, creating a balance between dynamism and monumentality. The quality of the chasing, particularly evident in the treatment of the hair, drapery, and foliage, reveals high-level workshop craftsmanship, while the gilding lends the whole a luminous depth and a warm vibrancy typical of Parisian bronzes of the mid-19th century.
Through its refined execution, its decorative abundance, and its reinterpreted Neoclassical inspiration, this clockworks stand as a remarkable testament to decorative luxury under Napoleon III.
Original mechanism intact, without modification. Strikes the hours and half-hours on an antique bell, with a clear and authentic sound.
Pendule : Hauteur : 45 cm / Largeur : 25 cm / Profondeur : 19 cm
Chandeliers : Hauteur 43 cm / Largeur : 21 cm
ORDERING AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM OUR WEBSITE
The clock features an architectural composition in the form of an antique vase, resting on a serpentine base with scalloped sides, lavishly decorated on the front and back with vegetal friezes, garlands, and finely chiseled draperies. The central body is enlivened by two imposing female figures in the round, forming caryatids. Draped in the classical style, they extend their arms into foliate scrolls that transform into structural supports, thus merging function and ornament according to a principle inherited from the Louis XVI style, revisited by the 19th century. The modeling of the faces, with their idealized and serene features, reflects a Neoclassical inspiration, while the profusion of scrolls and foliage conveys the decorative exuberance characteristic of the Second Empire.
The enamel dial, delicately adorned with polychrome floral garlands, is set within a bezel decorated with water leaves and pearls, framed by sculpted plant motifs in relief and protected by a domed glass.
The upper section rises into an architecturally structured lid crowned by a striking bouquet of acanthus leaves, forming a sculptural finial that accentuates the overall verticality.
The candelabra faithfully reproduce this formal vocabulary to create a perfectly homogeneous ensemble. Their central stem, emerging from an urn similar to that of the clock, is supported by similar female figures, ensuring iconographic unity. The candle arms unfold in asymmetrical, leafy scrolls, supporting finely molded candle holders reminiscent of vegetal corollas. The slender lines contrast with the richness of the chased decoration, creating a balance between dynamism and monumentality. The quality of the chasing, particularly evident in the treatment of the hair, drapery, and foliage, reveals high-level workshop craftsmanship, while the gilding lends the whole a luminous depth and a warm vibrancy typical of Parisian bronzes of the mid-19th century.
Through its refined execution, its decorative abundance, and its reinterpreted Neoclassical inspiration, this clockworks stand as a remarkable testament to decorative luxury under Napoleon III.
Original mechanism intact, without modification. Strikes the hours and half-hours on an antique bell, with a clear and authentic sound.
Pendule : Hauteur : 45 cm / Largeur : 25 cm / Profondeur : 19 cm
Chandeliers : Hauteur 43 cm / Largeur : 21 cm
ORDERING AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM OUR WEBSITE
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