Ormolu Clock and Candelabra Garniture by Deniere & Cailleaux

A fine and impressive ormolu mantel clock and candelabra…
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A fine and impressive ormolu mantel clock and candelabra garniture, the bronze by Jean Francois Deniere, Paris, the movement by Cailleaux, mid-19th century, in Louis XV manner, the clock with a gilt and enamel dial within a case surmounted with figures of putti and a dolphin and decorated with fruit, flowers and foliage on a platform base, the candelabra each of six lights on scrolling arms raised by a putto seated on a base decorated with fruit, flowers and foliage, the clock movement stamped 'Deniere a Paris' and 'Cailleaux', the clock 63 cm high, 53 cm wide, 23 cm deep, the candelabra each 73 cm high

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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.
  • Putto / Putti / Amorino / Amorini - A putto (plural: putti) or amerino (plural: amerini) is a cherub or cupid frequently appearing in both mythological and religious paintings and sculpture, especially of the Renaissance and Baroque periods and later used as a decorative element in the design of furniture, ceramics, statuary etc. They are usually depicted as chubby males, or of indeterminate gender, often with wings. Their depiction may represent an association with love, heaven, peace or prosperity.
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
  • Bronze - An alloy of copper and tin, traditionally in the proportions of about 9 parts of copper to 1 part of tin.

    The discovery of bronze in Western Asia in the 4th century enabled people to create metal objects which were superior to those previoulsy possible because of its strength and hardness, and it has been used throughout the world for weapons, coins, tools, statuary and other decorative items.

    It is very fluid in a molten state, and its hardness, strength when set, and non-corrosive properties makes it most suitable for casting sculpture.

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