French Mantle Clock

[instarclock]

Hello All,
When I first started fooling around with clocks, I mainly bought and worked on French clocks from the late 19th and early 20th century. About 5 years ago I switched to torsion clocks, but when I saw this clock at a resale shop a few months ago, I had to take it home. It looks like bronze, but is actually cast iron on a marble base. Its dimensions: 22”x 10” x 1200

Thanks for checking it out!
Rt

 

[instarclock]

I can’t find the link to edit my original post, but I wanted to correct the dimensions of the clock. It should read: 22”H x 13”W x 8” D. U also added a clearer photo of the clock. Not sure where my brain was when I posted, but obviously not in this dimension.
Thanks - Rt

a

 

[JTD]

There seems to be a maker's logo on the back plate. Is it Marti? I can't enlarge it clearly enough.

JTD

 

[instarclock]

Yes, the logo is for Samuel Marti. Sorry about the poor quality photos. The clock is in my bedroom which is as dark as a tomb.
Thanks for checking out my clock.

 

[JTD]

It's a nice clock - I like it. Not sure if the pendulum is original but it may be.

If it were mine I'd take out the movement and give the case a thorough clean. Then I would seal the surface with microcrystalline wax (Renaissance Wax is very good) and buff it up a little. I think it would look very fine.

Do the feet show any signs of having been gilded?

JTD

 

[instarclock]

I agree. Both the movement and case are due a good cleaning. I’ll give the Renaissance Wax a try. I’ve not used it before. No sign the feet were ever gilded. Just the same finish as the rest of the clock. I’ll try to not over-clean and lose the green highlights that is on some of the leaves.

I wondered about the pendulum when I first saw the clock. It could go either way. I think the clock would look better with a decorative pendulum, but this is the way the clock came to me and it’s a part of its history. So I’ll live with it.

 

[JTD]

I’ll give the Renaissance Wax a try. I’ve not used it before.

Renaissnce Wax is really good and used by the conservation departments of many museums. It's not the cheapest, but you use it really sparingly and a little goes a long way, so a small can lasts a long time.

JTD

 

[jmclaugh]

Renaissance wax is good stuff. I think the mercury style pendulum is decorative enough and that looks like a nice turn of the century clock and bell strike too, what's not to like.

 

[Love clocks]

Love it! Can send you my address in Australia if you want to post it to me...lol

 

[instarclock]

I think the postage would break both our banks. It is one very heavy clock - easily the heaviest I own.
Thanks for checking it out.
Rt