Ferdinand Berthoud Decorative Objects

A beautiful and original antique French portico clock, crafted from white marble mounted with ormolu (finely gilded bronze). The face of the clock is daintily painted with floral swa...

This magnificent Louis XVI period overmantel cock was made by Charles Bertrand in Paris, circa 1790. It is constructed like an architectural monument consisting of two Obelisks on to...

The clock with laurel wreath and torch finial over a clock set in a rectangular case, bronze feet. Together with a pair of two light candelabra.

A beautiful Antique French portico clock retailed by the famous Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co of Regent Street, London. It is of the classical style of Louis XVI, made of white marb...

Louis XVI ormolu-mounted black and white marble mantel clock, Paris, 1800. The white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals is contained ...

This wonderful 1920s Egyptian Revival clock is surmounted with an Assyrian style lamassau (human headed winged lion) and flanked by a pair of re...

Bronze and marble mantel clock from 18th century signed De Bontems a Pairs: Measures: 13.5" x 4.5" x 21.5" Weighs: 23

Ormolu bronze mantel clock flanked by a troubadour and musical instruments, signed 'Ferdinand Berthoud a Paris'. The end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century was a crucial time in which new technological advances helped to make watches more accurate and more portable. During the 1790s, the production of gilded bronze increased considerably as working conditions improved. The freedom of trade initiated by the French Revolution allowed many casters to develop large factories. The new factory environment gave them a chance to execute all stages of bronze work including drawing, casting, gilding, assembly, and trade of art objects. While the bronzers took creative liberty in creating all kinds of clocks in contrast to the noble and rigorous structure carried by the movement of neoclassicism. Under the reign of Empire, the case designs started gradually to develop away from a proportionate and strict classicism towards a baroque style and revival style. The rediscovery of medieval civilization was one of the intellectual curiosities of the beginning of the 19th century, with much input from the Ancien Régime and its institutions, rites and the medieval churches in which family ceremonies occurred. This early nineteenth-century figural mantel clock is surmounted by a medieval musician. To be more precise, it is a french troubadour. Troubadours were known for composing and performing lyric poetry for the nobility back during medieval times. The clock is featuring a chiselled bronze troubadour, dressed in medieval fashion while holding a flute, playing a tune from sheet music called "Du Troubadour" that is resting on top of the rectangular clock case. In addition to that, the clock features a gilt bronze lute or vielle resting on a small stool on the opposite side of the clock’s case. The white enamel dial features the inscription Berthoud and is underlined by a bronze entourage chiselled with palmette motif, plus encompassed by c-scrolls and wreaths. The original hands are in blued steel and encircled by Roman numerals indicating hour next to Arabic numerals indicating minutes. The small details that adorn the hexagonal plinth are reliefs, depicting two water fountains or basins on both sides with a lyre in between. The sculpted image of a lyre raised above the background features also foliage garlands tied on top with ribbons. The clock rests on seven spinning feet. The clock was made in the well-known workshop of the Berthoud’s family that was recognized for their excellent work by the King. Berthoud Clockmakers History. Ferdinand Berthoud was a horologist and author of extensive treatises on timekeeping as well as a Swiss clockmaker serving the king of France, that produced many marine clocks, including a weight-driven version that inspired the first American sea-going clock. He was born in Plancemont, Switzerland, the son of an architect and judiciary. In 1741 he began a three-year apprenticeship as a clockmaker under his brother, Jean-Henri. He made his first marine chronometer in 1754 (sent for trial in 1761) and in 1764 was appointed a member of the Royal Society, London and Horloger Mécanicien de Sa Majesté et de la Marine ayant l'inspection de la construction des Horloges Marines. In 1769, Ferdinand Berthoud sent for his nephew Pierre-Louis Berthoud (1754–1813), commonly known as Louis Berthoud, a talented young watchmaker and clockmaker, inviting him to come to Paris from Couvet, Switzerland, to pursue his apprenticeship. Louis helped Ferdinand manufacture and repair the sea clocks...

Egyptian Revival Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock Egyptian revival mantel clock housed in a polishes black slate and marble stepped case, decorated with winged uraeus and hieroglyphs, surmounted by a patinated bronze sphinx wearing nemes and resting on lions paw feet. Enamel dial with Arabic numerals and original ‘blued’ steel hands. Eight day French movement with anchor escapement striking the hours and halves on a silvered bell. The backplate signed Societe Clusienne S.C.A.P.H. Cluses and numbered 4144. C.1870 Societe Clusienne were based in Cluses near to the Swiss border in France. The case attributed to G.Servant Georges Emile Henri Servant ( 1828-1890) succeeded his father at their foundry at Rue Vieille-du-Temple, Paris in 1855. He specialised in the production of Neo-Egyptian style clocks. He was noted for the high quality of his bronzes at both the Paris Universal Exhibition 1855 and the London Exhibition in 1862. Many of his clocks were exported to the United States where his Sphinx clocks...

In fine condition with eagle finial over an enameled clock dial signed Degre, a fine Paris maker listed in Tardys book of French clockmakers. Flanked by two pairs of urns one white marble and the other black over marble columns wrapped in spiraling gilt bronze vines...

Louis XVI Dore bronze mantle clock, Conrad Felsing, Berlin. A finely cast dore' bronze mantle clock with Sevres porcelain face and decorative pla...

The oval base raised on toupie feet, centered with a panel of hunting dogs with hunting trophies on each side, the case supported by a landscaped scenery of water and rocks and surmo...