French Sevres Style Porcelain Mantel Clock

$5,120

c. 1860’s, France

With an impressive provenance and historical context, comes this beautifully decorated French Sevres Style Porcelain Mantel Clock with Silk Suspension.

Handpainted with Sèvres colours Bleu Céleste on the front and rear and Fond Pourpre on each side of the clock with inset hand painted floral decorations and separate Porcelain Plinth Stand.

Raised gold enamel accenting with hand painted floral panels. It is in the most remarkable condition with the majority of the overglaze gilt decoration in Fine condition with some minor rub wear.

The dial is bronze with lovely chased decoration, hand painted Roman Numerals and is complete with original fine Breguet moon hands.

It is of high quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. The movement is by the prominent French clock maker Vincenti et Cie and stamped on the front plate. c.1830’s with silk suspension external count wheel, it runs for 8 days, striking a bell on the half counting the hour on the hour.

PROVENANCE: Property from the Bigg-Whither Estate at Manydown House. “Bigg-Whither 16/06/66” etched on the back of the clock.

MEASUREMENTS

W 120cm x H 76.6cm

Condition

Sold As Is. Movement guaranteed for 1 Year. Pendulum has been replaced. The case is excellent with no damages. Most of the over glaze gilt decoration is in Fine condition with only slight rubbing. The Plinth has an old crack to the underneath of the porcelain which has been previously repaired. This clock is a working antique, this means the clock will have signs of age and might require setting up on arrival.

Historical Notes

MANYDOWN or MANYDOWN PARK

Was an ancient manor in Wootton St Lawrence, Hampshire, England. The fortunes of the estate were associated with those of the Wither family for more than 400 years. Author Jane Austen (1775–1817) was a frequent visitor at the Manydown great house circa 1799–1806 and received her only known proposal of marriage there.

VINCENTI ET CIE.

Vincenti was a much respected clock maker, a Corsican who set up in 1823 in Montbeliard using machinery of his own design. Following his death in 1834 his business was carried on by Roux et Cie throughout the 19th century as Vincenti et Cie who were awarded the silver medals at the Paris Expositions of 1834 and the Medaille d’Argent in 1855 for his highly decorative mantel clocks.

PROVENANCE

Property from the Bigg-Whither Estate at Manydown House. “Bigg-Whither 16/06/66” etched on the back of the clock.