Important Louis XV Period Cartel In Lacquer And Gilded Bronzes.

This large cartel clock, almost 1 meter high, is a beautiful Louis XV period model, circa 1750, in the shape of a violin and originally lacquered in shades of green, it offers a rich ornamentation of period gilded bronze. The ornamentation which redraws the shapes of the case is composed of rocaille motifs with jagged contours, scrolls, foliage and tormented branches, dotted with small flowers, the damping composed of a large leafy rocaille welcomes a bird with a long neck. The superb finely chiseled dial with a pattern of shells, palmettes and rosettes receives 25 enameled plates, in the center the identification plate signed by Picard in Reims, all around 12 Roman numerals for the hours, all surrounded by 12 small plates for the minutes in Arabic numerals. The hands are in blued iron. The movement is signed engraved Picard, it is the original movement with its preserved wire suspension. Built on a frame entirely in oak, this cartel retains its original finish, a green lacquer made on a thick coating, we note restorations and rework with the lacquer, we also observe cracks, these are stable and without fragility. The protruding corners and the side windows are dressed with brass plate, we also find brass on the bottom inside and on the back door. This cartel is a beautiful model, it is also interesting because of its large dimensions, it is also a beautiful collector's item since it retains its authenticity, movement, bronze and original finish, the quality of the bronzes which is perfect here is also a factor of great value. All the bronzes have been dismantled and cleaned, the gilding is original and it shows normal wear, the lacquer has been cleaned and restored in conservation, the whole has been reassembled, the windows are period, note the cracked left side window, the movement has not been revised but it works and sounds well. Dimensions: Height: 98 cm Width: 48 cm Depth: 19 cm