A FRENCH NAPOLEON III PATINATED BRONZE AND ORMOLU MOUNTED WHITE MARBLE FIGURAL MANTEL CLOCK

A FRENCH NAPOLEON III PATINATED BRONZE AND ORMOLU MOUNTED WHITE MARBLE FIGURAL MANTEL CLOCKThe movement stamped for Raingo Freres, Paris, circa 1860The circular eight-day countwheel bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum incorporating Brocot type regulation to suspension, the backplate stamped with RAINGO FRERES, Paris roundel to centre and numbered 6 to lower margin, the blue-on-white enamel Roman numeral dial inscribed RAINGO FRE'S, PARIS to centre and with Arabic five minutes to outer track, with fine scroll pieced gilt hands behind hinged convex glazed bezel cast with laurel wreath to surround, the case modelled with a recumbent putto reading a book raised on a fluted flared plinth with rounded ends and applied with gilt floral festoon swags over skirt base applied with laurel cast moulding and squat toupe feet. Provenance: The Selwyn Demmy Collection. The firm of Raingo Freres was founded in 1813 by the Belgian Zacharie Joseph Raingo. He was born in 1775, lived in Tournai and worked in Ghent before moving to Paris in 1813. By 1834 the company was being run by his four sons who received an honorable mention in an exhibition in Paris that year. While the Raingo brothers were first recognized as clockmakers, in 1841 they added bronzes and furnishings to their products. Known for the quality of their ormolu (gold plating), by 1860, Raingo Freres had supplied clocks, bronzes to Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenia, examples of which are now in the collection of The Louvre. In 1862 the company exhibited at the International Exhibition in London followed by the world exhibitions of 1867, 1878 and 1889 where several medals were awarded including a gold medal in 1898.Condition Report: Movement appears complete and original with no visible evidence of alteration or significant replacements. Although the movement is in working condition the mechanism is somewhat dirty/neglected hence a clean/service is required. The dial has some relatively crude filling of chips around both winding holes otherwise appears to be in good condition. The case has some light edge chipping (mostly to the lower right hand edge at the rear) as well as a few light blemishes to the marble. The bronze has some noticeable rubbing to the patination to the chest of the figure otherwise appears to be in good original condition with only light wear and discolouration commensurate with age and use.Clock has a pendulum but no winding key. Condition Report Disclaimer