Hello James,
Thank you for sending your antique French mantel clock to mearto.com for an appraisal. I shall try to help you with that today
TITLE:
Dore bronze and Sevres-style painted panel, double barrel springs, eight-day time with hour/half hour striking, mantel clock with dial/movement signed by ‘Lemerle-Charpentier & Cie’ (working 1870-1890), bronziers, unsigned by the clockmaker made in Paris, France c. 1880-1890
DESCRIPTION:
CASE – Size not provided. This Dore bronze, finely finished, mantel clock is surmounted by the sculpted figure of Cupid, pensive while picking out his next target and with a quiver of arrows at the ready, he sits amongst the foliage. This sculpture was crafted by the firm of Lemerle-Charpentier & Cie, the business successors to Charpentier & Cie, Rue Charlot, Paris working from c. 1860-1870. Cupid rests on an ovoid golden pedestal with castings of rosettes, all atop the pediment of the architecturally designed clock case. Below, there is an ormolu ribboned bow and flowers resting atop the glazed brass dial bezel which is centered on the case façade, while just below the dial there is a reverse painted panel of two cherubs with flowers and a gilt lyre. Flanking the dial, the sides of the case are chamfered with oval paintings of two French noblewomen with Dore bronze vertical fluting below. Each side of the case is adorned with Dore bronze floral boughs with fruit or early flower buds present. The gilt base follows the architectural structure with panels ornamented in a wave like design along with panels of rosettes. All rest on several adjustable golden Toupie feet.
DIAL – White enameled dial with blue Roman hour chapter ring, closed minute track to the outside with Arabic markers placed every five minutes. A Brocot aperture is seen above the twelve for adjusting the speed of the movement (came into common usage post 1860). There are two winding apertures for the movement. Gilt skeletonized Louis
XVth style hands. The dial is signed above “Lemerle-Charpentier & Cie, Bronziers” and below, “Paris, 8 Rue Charloi” (I am uncertain as to whether the dial painter misspelled Rue Charlot as Charloi or not).
MOVEMENT – A round solid brass plate movement with tubular brass pillars holding the gearing and the two plates pinned at the rear plate. There is an anchor escapement, steel cut pinions, steel arbors, fly wheel and rack and snail striking all powered by two-barrel springs of eight-day duration and striking the silvered bell on the hour and half hour. A short pendulum would swing from the Brocot pendulum suspension at the upper end of the back plate. The retailers and bronziers, Lemerle-Charpentier & Cie signed in an oval in the upper left-hand corner of the back plate, the place usually signed by retailers and import/export firms. If the clockmaker signed the movement you will find it on the lower part of the rear plate, under the bell, and if you find one of their medallions cast into the rear plate you can add another 15% to the value that I have provided you with.
CONDITION:
Case- Excellent untouched condition
Dial – Excellent with slight wear to the numerals.
Movement – Assume this movement is original to this case, genuine and functional.
THE MARKET:
During the years from 2010-2015 French clocks were bringing five figure prices on a routine basis. At some point it was learned that many of these Period French clocks had been tampered with, placing old movements in newer cases, putting names on the dial and worse. As a result, all 19th and 20th century French clocks (except true 17th and 18th century examples which always bring high prices and which are not often seen) have taken a tumble. Here is a group of clocks made by your retail bronzier firm which have sold over the past two years.
RECENT COMPARABLES:
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/lemerle-charpentier-19thc-bronze-mantle-clock-boIGnFAWuP (sold in 2019 for $1800)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/19thc-french-mantel-clock-lemerle-charpentier-4_DrBjT1tJe (sold for $3000 in 2019)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/a-fine-19th-century-grey-marble-and-gilt-bronze-clock-set-in-the-louis-xvi-style-srr_I0xYtV (sold in 2018 for $2333)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/exceptional-french-neo-grec-bronze-and-marble-clock-hlbWaqWsvR (sold in 2019 for $4800)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/lemerle-charpentier-and-cie-mantel-clock-xSCIuNIHdg (sold for $5900 in 2017)
PRICING:
I believe that your example is fully genuine and ranks with many of those I just listed. I think at auction today with a bronzed case made by this well-known firm the fair market value of your clock would range between $4500 and $5500. Retail prices would be higher, of course.
I hope that helps you with your appraisal and betters your understanding of this fine clock. Remember to look for the signature under the bell. Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year! Thank you for using mearto.com for the appraisal.
My best,
David