Viennese Musical Mantel Clock with Music Box

A Viennese ormolu musical mantel clock, 19th century, grand…
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A Viennese ormolu musical mantel clock, 19th century, grand sonnaire gilt dial, flanked by decorative pillars, all below a bouquet finial. The base inset with a music box by Anton Olbrich, playing on the hour. Three train movement, 41 cm high, 29 cm wide, 21 cm deep

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  • Ormolu - Ormolu was popular with French craftsmen in the 18th and 19th century for ornamental fittings for furniture, clocks and other decorative items. True ormolu is gilt bronze, that is bronze that has been coated with gold using a mercury amalgam. Due to the health risks associated with using mercury, this method of creating ormolu was discontinued in France in the 1830s. A substitute was developed consisting of about 75% copper and 25% zinc, however it was inferior to the bronze version. It was often lacquered to prevent it tarnishing.
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
  • Finial - An architectural decoration, found on the upper parts of of an object. On furniture they are usually found on pediments, canopies and shelf supports. On smaller ceramic or silver items, such as spoons, they may decorate the top of the item itself, or the lid or cover where they provide a useful handle for removal.

    Finials have a variety of shapes and forms. They may be urn-shaped, baluster shaped round or spiral, but usually taper into an upper point. Many real life shapes may also be used as finials, such as pineapples, berries, pinecones, buds, lotus and acorns. Sometimes animals such as a lion are depicted, or fish and dolphins.

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