Neo-louis XV Gilt Bronze Clock With Spring Genies. Circa 1880

Attractive Louis XV style chiseled and gilded bronze table clock with an allegorical subject of Spring. Resting on a lateral base with beautiful acanthus leaf scrolls, the body of the clock with its scalloped profiles dressed in Rocaille ornamental motifs displays on its bushel a top ornamental vase adorned with freshly bloomed wild flowers near which a small turtle dove frolics. Leaning on its sides festooned with a ribboned floral garland stand, one camped on a mossy mound, the other perched on an acanthus crozier, two Winged Cherubs, charming and zealous Emissaries of the cheerful Spring Season. Set on its bezel with a swelling of pearls, the white enameled dial with Roman and Arabic numerals for the hours and minutes. Movement on its plate monogrammed "ND", stamp of the Watchmaker "Japy Frères et Cie". Quality Parisian work from the second half of the 19th century. Circa 1880. ----------------- A smiling Ode to Spring: With harmonious lines and proportions, this attractive Louis XV gilt bronze table clock displays on its case with suavely scalloped profiles a luxuriant Rocaille decoration with asymmetrical motifs of scrolls, volutes, acanthus foliate crosiers, crested shells chiseled with verve. Arranged in friezes, robust gadroons underline their cheerful undulation. Summoned on a small dice of an ornamental vase adorned with a myriad of wild flowers near which has come to frolic, wings outstretched, a diligent turtledove - a Venusian bird preluding to the beguiling charms of Spring -, the bushel of the clock is festooned on its curved ramp, its sides with an opulent floral garland held by a coquettish ribbon bow. In its center, set on its bezel with a beautiful string of pearls, takes place the white enameled dial of the timepiece indicating the hours, the minutes in Roman and Arabic numerals by two pierced hands in gilded bronze. One vigorously camped on a small mossy mound, the other nimbly perched on a scrolling console, charming childlike figures exquisitely modeled are both leaning on it. Holding or brandishing in one hand a ribbon, a flowered stalk, these dapper Winged Cherubs with plump bodies encircled by twirling draperies are intended to be the mischievous and playful Emissaries of this Season favorable to Love that is Spring. Decorated on its sides with interlacing openwork oves, the case of the clock is embellished on its back face with stylized foliaged acanthus scrolls, with a large motif of multi-lobed ribbed leaves. Supported by a straight base darkened with fluting, ample and vigorous lateral volutes with acanthus foliage give theatricality, vivacity to this timepiece of a most happy composition. Monogrammed on its plate "ND", our model is to be compared both by its quality of manufacture and by its formal party to the Neo-Louis XV creations proposed during the years 1870-1880 by emeritus Parisian Establishments of Bronzes of Art Furniture. We will name in this case the Houses G.Denière, Léon Marchand, Louis Lerolle or Raingo Frères. Candor, sweet joviality individualize this seductive timepiece haloed by childlike Grace. As such, it will seal under the omen of Eternal Spring the hours passing by. ------------- Materials: Gilt bronze; Enamel and glass. Dimensions: H.: 40 cm;-L.: 49 cm;-Pr.: Marks and Signatures: Movement numbered on its plate "555"; stamp of the Watchmaker "Japy Frères et Cie/ Gde Méd (aille). D Honneur" and stamp inscribed "ND". Quality Parisian work in Louis XV-Rocaille style from the second half of the 19th century, Circa 1880 Very Good Condition.