Louis XVI-style Clock With A "puits" Design, Gilded Bronze And Gray-white Marble, 18th Century

A clock known as the “Aux Puits,” made of gilded bronze and marble (turquin and white), dating from the Louis XVI period, late 18th century. The enameled dial, featuring Arabic numerals and delicate openwork hands, appears to be suspended within an arch topped by a pinecone. Atthe center, a thin chain descends directly into the well’s opening, holding a small miniature bucket.

Beneath the dial, the structure faithfully mimics the architecture of a castle well. The cylindrical body of the well is crafted from white marble slabs assembled to simulate a cut-stone construction.

The well rests on a circular marble terrace (likely Turquin blue or Sainte-Anne gray marble). The base is adorned around its perimeter with a frieze of beads or a chiseled cord in gilded bronze. Small decorative gilded bronze markers or studs can be seen on the base, arranged around the main structure. The entire clock rests on small spinning-top-shaped feet.

This clock is in very good condition; it has been serviced and is in perfect working order. It comes with its pendulum and key. This type of table clock, which was very fashionable during the reign of Louis XVI, reflects the era’s taste for picturesque and architectural miniature subjects combined with the high precision of French clockmaking.

Please note: very slight scratches on the marble, slight wear on the gilding in places, signs of age—please examine the photos carefully.

• Gray base diameter 18 cm / well 12 cm / dial 8.5 cm
• Height 40 cm

Reference: A10 334
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