18th-century Marble And Bronze Lyre-shaped Clock, Signed Jean Lefebvre Fils

A clock made of white marble and finely chiseled bronze, gilded with mercury in a matte finish and burnished. It rests on four round legs.

The oval base is adorned with a frieze of laurel leaves, pearls, and garlands of flowers.

The lyre is framed by two rows of pearls. It is set within gilded bronze acanthus leaves resting on the base. It is crowned by a mask of Apollo between the two arms of the lyre.
The ring-shaped dial, made of white enamel and revealing the movement, features black numerals for the time and red numerals for the date. The “fleur-de-lis” hands are openwork, gilded bronze; the date hand is blued steel. The dial is set with rhinestones.

The skeletonized movement features an hour and half-hour striking mechanism. Anchor escapement, knife-type suspension (to support the weight of the balance wheel). Very large lyre-shaped balance wheel set with rhinestones (Rhinestones). Date wheel with hollowed-out teeth accentuating the “skeleton” effect of the movement.
The movement’s back plate is stamped with the name of the clockmaker, JEAN LEFEBVRE FILS, and a three-masted ship bearing the clockmaker’s initials, J L F.

The bronze parts are of fine quality in both casting and chasing, and retain their original mercury gilding. 
The balance wheel ring occupies the space between the movement and the lyre, allowing the rhinestones to sparkle magically when illuminated.

Condition Report:
The clock is in good overall condition; the bronze parts have a thick layer of original mercury gilding. The movement was serviced in June 2026. The clock functions perfectly and keeps good time. Restoration of the lyre’s marble.

Height: 53 cm
Width: 28 cm
Depth: 15 cm
Louis XVI period

Lyre clocks were highly popular and were characteristic and emblematic of the Louis XVI period. Dedicated to music, they often adorned music rooms.

With its base, bronze fittings, and lyre design, our clock is comparable to the pink Sèvres porcelain clock at the Villa Ephurussi de Rothschild (see “Les plus belles pendules françaises” by TARDY, page 187, 1994 edition)
We also find the same lyre design on the green Sèvres porcelain clock (see page 25 of “François DUESBERG Museum in Mons – Belgium)

Delivery: Please contact us to discuss, depending on the distance, the possibility of delivery and installation by our team. On-site pickup available.