Antique clock and two vases
Description from AI not sure really. The antiques are my Aunt's and she wanted to get the. Appraised. I think she wants to sell them French Belle Époque Mantel Clock from the late 19th or early 20th century, featuring a bronze (or bronzed spelter) sculpture by the celebrated French artist Auguste Moreau (1834–1917). Sculpture Details The statue depicts two young children, a boy and a girl, in a classic Art Nouveau/Romantic style. Auguste Moreau was renowned for these "genre scenes" that captured themes of innocence and playfulness. Signature: As seen in your close-up photo, it is signed "Aug. Moreau" on the naturalistic base. Material: The figures are likely patinated bronze or spelter (a zinc-based alloy often used for clocks and lamps of this era). The Base: The clock is set into a multi-tiered Breccia marble base, characterized by its distinctive "broken" or fragmented vein pattern.
Not measured
Other
Yes
Hi David,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
This is a mantel garniture, a word that comes from the French word "garniture," meaning “trimming,” “adornment,” or “furnishing.” In antiques, the term usually refers to a three-piece matching decorative set or ensemble consisting of a central mantel clock and two matching side pieces, often candlesticks, urns, vases, or candelabra. (In your garniture, you have the central clock and flanking vases).
Garnitures became especially fashionable in the 18th and 19th centuries in France and later throughout Europe and America. They reflected the Victorian and Belle Époque taste for symmetry and richly decorated interiors. A formal parlor or drawing room often featured a garniture displayed prominently on a marble mantelpiece beneath a mirror.
Auguste Moreau (1834-1917) did make a similar figural bronze featuring two young lovers and clockmakers in France (not Moreau) occasionally used his figures. The mark on the bottom of yours is a foundry mark, specifically that of the Fabrication Française Paris, which was established in 1892. It was a collective marketing label rather than that of a single foundry and used by Parisian workshops to identify and promote high-quality French-made decorative arts, primarily spelter and bronze sculptures, exported worldwide during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras until the mid-20th century.
Garnitures are increasingly old-fashioned forms and bring less and less each year. While this three-piece set might once have sold at auction for at least $5,000, these days it might be hard to get as much as $1,000 for this, even with the use of expensive bronze and marble.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An antique French cast bronze or spelter and marble mantel garniture
late 19th/early 20th Century
comprising a clock with figural top after Moreau and two flanking vases
DIMENSIONS
CONDITION: with minor wear commensurate to age and use. Clock not warranted to work.
PROVENANCE:
$ 700-1,000 for the set*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
Great - I'll get an alert when additional photo(s) have been added and will revisit this then - there's no hurry on my end, whenever it's convenient for you.
~ Delia
My 80+ year old auntie took this new picture. It appears to be a stamp not sure if that's what you're looking for. It's a heavy clock and not very strong. I noticed the stamp looked backwards so I used my photo app to flip it and saw it just says made in France and perhaps Paris. Hard to make it out
I just sharpened the photo but actually not sure what is says haha.
I am sorry, you're right. I don't see a signature. The clock is in another city. I took the pictures while I was there for my wife's aunt. I will see if she can take a picture