A Napoleon III marquetry portico clock, circa 1850-70, dial…
click the photo to enlarge
A Napoleon III marquetry portico clock, circa 1850-70, dial marked Millot à Valenciennes, an engine turned steel dial with Roman numerals enclosed by a cast gilt floral bezel and supported between pairs of columns with engine turned and stiff leave capitals, a fine lyre style pendulum and floral inlay to the cornice and base; with key, height 46 cm, width 23 cm, depth 13 cm

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Engine Turned - Engine turning is a decorative technique used on metal surfaces to create intricate curving or geometric pattern. The process involves cutting a series of lines into the surface of the metal using a rose engine or decoration lathe which rotates the metal as it cuts, allowing the operator to create a repeating pattern that covers the entire surface. The resulting surface has a shimmering, reflective quality that is often described as "engine turned." Where an engine turned item has been enamelled, the term used to describe the decoration is usually guilloche.

    Engine turning was originally developed to decorate metal objects such as firearms, scientific instruments, and other metal objects that required precise and elegant design.
  • Pendulum - The pendulum was discovered around 1602 by Galileo Galilei, and was adopted for time keeping by the Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher, Christiaan Huygens, who excelled in astronomy, physics, and horology.

    The pendulum comprises a metal rod usually of brass or steel with a metal disk, known as a bob, at the end. The movement of the pendulum is driven by weights or a spring, and as a pendulum swings in a regular arc, it was found accuracy could be controlled to within a few seconds a week.

    Timekeeping can be adjusted by changing the height of the bob on the rod, making the pendulum either swing slower or faster.

    The disadvantage of the pendulum was that changes in temperature also changed the length of the pendulum, interfering with the accuracy of the clock, and so in the 18th century two types of mercurial pendulums were invented which countered the movement in the steel rod.

    The pendulum was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the invention of the quartz clock, regulated by a quartz crystal, in 1927.
  • Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
  • Bezel - On a clock or watch, the bezel is the metal frame into which the watch or clock glass is fitted. In clocks, the bezel may include a hinge and a flange, in effect a door to the face of the clock. In jewellery the bezel is a band of metal with a projecting lip that holds the gemstone in its setting.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A walnut and ormolu portico clock, 19th century, with maker's mark for Japy Freres, of typical form with an inlaid pediment, four columns with stiff leaf and engine turned capitals and bases supporting an enamel dial with Roman numerals within an ornamente

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A Charles X marquetry portico clock, circa 1830s, the portico clock with a floral inlaid frieze above a white metal dial with a well cast floral bezel between strung columns with engine turned capitals and bases, the base similarly inlaid, and having a fin

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

French ormolu mounted mahogany portico clock, 19th century, ormolu surround to silvered dial with steel Breguet hands. Height 50 cm width 25.5 cm depth 13 cm

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A rosewood and gilt bronze Empire style portico clock. Late 19th century. Of typical architectural form with Louis XVI style inlaid designs to the pediment in light timbers, four pillars with Egyptian style stiff leaf capitals supporting an enamel dial wit

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.