Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 21

18 C. Louis XVI French Ormolu Mtd. Queen’s Manufacture Porcelain Clock, F. Godon

$48,180
£36,167.13
€42,163.44
CA$68,232.69
A$68,421.31
CHF 39,585.42
MX$833,140.98
NOK 459,377.03
SEK 468,211.47
DKK 315,227.10

About the Item

An Incredible and Quite Rare 18th Century Louis XVI Period French Ormolu Mounted Queen’s Manufacture Porcelain Clock, known as the Marie-Antoinette Clock, The movement by François-Louis Godon. The clock consists of polychrome hand-painted porcelain and gilt ormolu decoration. Characterized by their extravagant use of Rococo design motifs, mantel clocks such as this one were used not for their practicality, but as a display of immoderation and opulence. Atop the vessel is a spray of gilt spring flowers: daffodils, foxgloves, roses, and morning bells. The ormolu fixtures on the clock face, stem, and apex complement the painted flowers on the surface of the porcelain. Above the hands on the clock face reads “Maniere” in reference to the clock’s designer, Charles-Guillaume Manière. As the son of a Parisian master clockmaker, Manière became a master himself in the late 18th century and trained under other notable French designers. His work was often made in collaboration with Pierre-Philippe Thomire and François Rémond who possibly made the ormolu casing for his clock. This is a very rare and highly prized piece for any collection. Similar clocks can be found in museum's around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY and other museums around the world. Paris, Circa: 1785
  • Creator:
    François-Louis Godon (Clockmaker)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 16.25 in (41.28 cm)Width: 8 in (20.32 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
  • Style:
    Louis XVI (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1780-1789
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1785
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU919540229352

More From This Seller

View All
Monumental 19th C. French Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze & Cut Glass Mantel Clock

Monumental 19th C. French Louis XIV Style Gilt Bronze & Cut Glass Mantel Clock

Located in New York, NY

This monumental 19th-century French mantel clock, crafted in the lavish Louis XIV style, is a commanding expression of regal elegance and technical refinement. Towering in presence, ...

Category

Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Large Louis XVI Period (18th Century) French Marble & Dore Bronze Portico Clock

Large Louis XVI Period (18th Century) French Marble & Dore Bronze Portico Clock

Located in New York, NY

A Magnificent and Large Louis XVI Period (18th Century) French portico clock, with a double marble column mount and adorned with gilded bronze chains. The pendulum takes the form of ...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock “Lettre d’Amour”, Att. François-Louis Savart

French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock “Lettre d’Amour”, Att. François-Louis Savart

Located in New York, NY

An Important French Empire Ormolu Mantel Clock “Lettre d’Amour,” Attributed to François-Louis Savart, Paris The clock is formed with a rectangular case rising from a shaped plinth base set on four flattened bun feet. The base displays a continuous frieze cast in relief with two sheep flanking a central urn, framed by scrolling foliage at each end. Above, the main case supports a circular white enamel dial with Roman numerals and two winding apertures, enclosed within a beaded ormolu bezel. Beneath the dial, a rectangular panel is cast with a reclining male figure in a landscape setting, accompanied by trees. To the left, a female figure is seated on a cushion supported by an X form empire stool, her body turned toward the dial. She raises one hand toward her face while a bird rests on her knee, and she holds a circular medallion bearing a profile portrait. To the right, a tripod table stands on three supports formed as winged griffins with lion heads and clawed feet. The table surface holds a writing box with an open lid, a quill, and a candlestick. The surfaces throughout are finished in gilt, with visible chasing across the figures, drapery, and ornamental borders. The clock is attributed to François Louis Savart, a bronzier active in Paris. Savart produced objects in gilt bronze including clocks, candelabra, and decorative mounts. He maintained a workshop in Paris where he developed figural clock models incorporating classical motifs and narrative subjects. Comparable models associated with Savart include figural compositions with seated female figures, auxiliary furniture elements, and narrative relief panels, reflecting established design types within Parisian bronze production. Savart’s workshop operated within the Paris bronze industry, where cast ormolu objects were produced using sand casting followed by chasing and gilding. The construction of this clock case reflects the use of multiple cast components assembled into a unified structure, including separately cast figures, furniture elements, and applied relief panels. The inclusion of tripod tables, X form seating, and winged supports corresponds to design sources drawn from Greco Roman models that were adapted in Empire period decorative arts. The precise casting, crisp chasing, and consistent gilt surface across the figures, mounts, and relief panels indicate a high level of production quality, with the complexity of the assembled components supporting its desirability among Paris ormolu figural clocks...

Category

Antique 1810s French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Gold Plate, Bronze

Monumental Antique French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock by Maison Marquis

Monumental Antique French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock by Maison Marquis

By Languereau, Maison Marquis

Located in New York, NY

A very unusual and quite monumental antique French Louis XVI style Napoleon III ormolu mantel clock by Maison Marquis, the Movement by Languereau, Paris, 1860: surmounted by an urn i...

Category

Antique 1860s French Napoleon III Mantel Clocks

Materials

Enamel, Bronze

Antique French Louis XVI Period Dore Bronze Striking Cartel Clock, 18th Century

Antique French Louis XVI Period Dore Bronze Striking Cartel Clock, 18th Century

Located in New York, NY

Antique French Louis XVI period dore bronze striking cartel clock, 18th century. With it's horological functions completely intact this stunning clock is in excellent condition with ...

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Louis XVI Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Chinoiserie/Japanism Dore Bronze and Hand Painted Porcelain Clock

French Chinoiserie/Japanism Dore Bronze and Hand Painted Porcelain Clock

By Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Barbedienne

Located in New York, NY

A very unusual and quite rare 19th century French chinoiserie/Japanism dore bronze mounted and hand painted porcelain aesthetic movement clock, attributed to E. Lièvre, most probably...

Category

Antique 1870s French Japonisme Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

You May Also Like

Fine Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock

Fine Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock

By Vincenti et Cie

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

A fine, early antique French clock by André Hoffmann of Paris, the movement by Vincenti et Cie, circa 1850. It is beautifully made in ormolu (fir...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French Louis XV Style Porcelain Gilt Mixed Metal Mantel Clock

French Louis XV Style Porcelain Gilt Mixed Metal Mantel Clock

Located in Forney, TX

A breathtaking antique French Belle Époque period (1871-1914) porcelain mounted mixed metal mantel clock. Born in France in the late 19th / early 20th century, fine quality Parisian work, exceptionally executed in luxuriously opulent 18th century Louis XV Rocaille taste, finished on all sides so it can be placed anywhere in the room, featuring a visually striking sculptural floral fiolate adorned gilt metal case, heavily embellished with fine porcelain flowers...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Mantel Clocks

Materials

Metal, Brass, Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu

Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock  by Miroy Frères

Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock by Miroy Frères

By Vincenti et Cie, Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, Miroy Frères

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

A superb early antique French ormolu and Sèvres style porcelain clock. It is made of exquisite ormolu (finely gilded bronze) mounted with very finely painted Sèvres style porcelain, ...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Large Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock, 19th Century

Large Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mantel Clock, 19th Century

By Henri Voisin

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A Fine quality French 19th century gilded ormolu and white marble mantel clock in the Louis XVI style. Having a two handled urn to the top with flowers and garlands draping down to t...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Clock

French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Sèvres Porcelain and Ormolu Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A magnificent French 19th century Louis XVI st. Sèvres porcelain and ormolu clock. The clock is raised by fine topie shaped feet below the ormolu base which is decorated with elegant...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th century Ormolu, Marble and Porcelain clock, by F. Pelissier

French 19th century Ormolu, Marble and Porcelain clock, by F. Pelissier

By F. Pelissier

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A most elegant and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI st. Ormolu, white Carrara marble and Saxe Porcelain clock signed by 'F. Pelissier, France. The clock is raised on an ova...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu