Antique Malachite Ormolu & Bronze Mantel Clock 19th C

This is a superb quality antique French malachite, bronze and ormolu mantel clock dating from Circa 1850 in date.

It features Louis XVI seated on an ormolu throne chair whilst reading a book.

The clockmakers name is inscribed on the backplate. It is of high quality and is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is original. The movement bearing the serial number 29, made and signed by Japy Fils 1849. It has an early Frnch silk suspension movement.

This stunning clock will make a statement wherever placed.

Condition:
This clock is in excellent working condition, the movement having been cleaned and serviced, the ormolu and malachite case having been polished, in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation.

Dimensions in cm:
Height 58 x Width 44 x Depth 19

Dimensions in inches:
Height 1 foot, 11 inches x Width 1 foot, 5 inches x Depth 7 inches

Malachite is an opaque, green banded mineral. It is believed to be a strong protector of children. It protects the wearer from accidents and protects travellers. Malachite has been used to aid success in business and protect against undesirable business associations. It is a stone of balance in relationships.

Malachite is always green, usually in banded tones varying from very dark green to a mellow green. Most malachite comes from Zaire, Chile and Australia.

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used malachite for jewellery and ground it to use as eye shadow. It is used in amulets to protect against the evil eye. In the Middle Ages it was used to protect children from witches and other dangers.

Ormolu - Gilt Bronze (from French 'or moulu', signifying ground or pounded gold) is an 18th-century English term for applying finely ground, high-carat gold in a mercury amalgam to an object of bronze.The mercury is driven off in a kiln leaving behind a gold-coloured veneer known as 'gilt bronze'.

The manufacture of true ormolu employs a process known as mercury-gilding or fire-gilding, in which a solution of nitrate of mercury is applied to a piece of copper, brass, or bronze, followed by the application of an amalgam of gold and mercury. The item was then exposed to extreme heat until the mercury burned off and the gold remained, adhered to the metal object.

After around 1830 because legislation had outlawed the use of mercury other techniques were used instead. Electroplating is the most common modern technique. Ormolu techniques are essentially the same as those used on silver, to produce silver-gilt..

Our reference: A1912