Mantel Clock 18th Century Louis XVI “putto And The World”

The enamel dial with Roman hours and Arabic minutes signed Ageron Francois a Paris, pierced gilt hands , the case surmounted by a cock on top, with a bronze putto seated on books on one side and the globe on the other. The base with foliate bosses and panels of entrelac centred with acanthus, on gray marble and toupie feet. Eight day movement regulated by a silk susended pendulum and striking the hours and halves on a bell by means of the countwheel system. Antique French clock of stunning quality.

François Ageron is one of the most important Parisian clockmakers of the 18th century. After becoming a master on July 17, 1741, he opened workshops successively in the Place du Pont Saint-Michel, the quai des Augustins, the rue Saint-Louis au Palais and the Place Dauphine. He quickly gained a reputation among the important Parisian horological collectors, becoming known for his movements, which often feature complications. Like most of the fine clockmakers of the time, he called on the best artisans for his clock cases, including the cabinetmaker Balthazar Lieutaud and the bronze casters Saint-Germain, Caffieri and Osmond. He stopped working in the early 1780’s and his business was sold on May 31, 1784. During the 18th century, his clocks were mentioned in important private collections, including those of François-Ferdinand, Comte de Lannoy, René-François-André, Comte de la Tour du Pin and Vicomte de La Charce, and Christian IV, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken. One of the clocks made by Ageron was described in 1787; it was in the bedroom of Queen Marie-Antoinette’s small apartments of in the Château de Versailles.
Description of Ageron can be found in Tardy dictionnaire des Horloges Francais page 3