Sunday, August 22, 2010

Object of the Day: French Ormolu and White Marble Clock

While most black “marble” clocks are actually crafted of slate, this mid-Nineteenth-Century French beauty is constructed of white marble. Gently carved into a neoclassical shape with volute-shaped handles, this clock sports ormolu figures which flank the clock face. The two figures depict a shepherd and shepherdess in Eighteenth Century attire, surrounded by sheep and foliage. The plants which “grow” around them rise up to create a corona just above the enamel clock face.


The sheen of ormolu against the glow of the white marble is a striking contrast, especially evident in the decorative mountings on the body of the clock itself. A decorative chain is swagged just below the figures, playfully catching the light with each swing of the pendulum. The whole piece is given more importance by the ebonized wood and ormolu base. A non-chiming clock, a piece such as this would have graced a bedroom’s mantle or dressing table. I’m particularly fond of this delicate French clock for its artistry and the sense of peace it radiates.

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