Hello Bill,
Thank you for sending in your grandmother's mantel clock to mearto.com. for an appraisal. I shall try to help you identify it.
TITLE:
Art Nouveau, Dore bronze, spring driven, eight day time and strike, figural (Shakespeare & Hemingway) mantel clock with polychrome painted dial and painted glass panels in the Sevres-style, clock is unsigned, made in France circa 1900-1910.
DESCRIPTION:
Case: Size note provided – The Dore bronze and painted panel mantel clock is surmounted by a cast gilt metal bust of a gentleman. Unfortunately, his face is not shown in any of the photographs, but I am told it is a bust of William Shakespeare. The bust rests on a fan shaped pedestal above a plethora of gilt foliage atop the canted architectural pediment with a molding of swags and drapery. The pediment rests, at either side, on a horizontal gilt cornice with dentil molding and just below are fluted pilasters with Ionic capitals and lance-leaf bases. The two Dore bronze columns frame the arched polychrome painted dial glass. Above is the main dial with Roman hours in shield-shaped cartouche form, each cartouche outlined with gold paint, closed minute ring to the outside, the dial center painted with colorful flowers and a bird. There are unusual steel “iron cross” spear-shaped hands, perhaps indicative of the military theme of the finial. Below the dial there is another panel of an ancient garden of colorful flowers and birds and an ancient ruin in the background. The painting is enclosed by gold paint with intermittent placement of aqua colored blue pins. The sides of the case are similarly decorated with large rectangular panels in a similar style, all stressing the bounty of nature, both flora and fauna, perhaps indicative of the Art Nouveau era (1880-1910). The painted panel is enclosed with a royal blue band with gilt ornamentation. Once again we see the placement of aqua colored pins, some are missing. There is a stepped base down to a centrally placed, cast facial mask of, and the client tells me this information, Ernest Hemingway. His face is enclosed by large gilt ‘C’ scrolls and Fleur-de-Lys, while to either side are recessed blue painted glass panels. The case rests on four adjustable Dore bronze toupie feet. . .
The movement is not shown, but is most likely a round solid brass plate movement, plates connected by tubular pillars which are pinned at the rear plate. Likely with an anchor escapement, steel cut pinions and steel arbors while two barrel springs power this eight day clock while striking a coiled gong on the hour. I doubt you will find a maker's name on the back of the movement.
A glazed panel sits in the base of the casing with some French writing. A name with which I am unfamiliar, "90%-31, and ‘Gros Bleu'’, in French meaning ‘Big Blue’, the pattern for this model clock. . .
Condition: In very good condition, essentially missing some of the light blue pins used for ornamentation. The quality of the paintings on French clocks at the start of the 20th century have lost their fineness compared to earlier years, and I have always felt these painted dials are not carefully or as expertly executed as those done a decade or two earlier. They represent the early years of the new century and a style of clock that is quickly going out of style.
Some Comparables:
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/16145574_french-sevres-style-mantle-clock (A similar style clock sold for $600 in 2013)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/65674955_antique-french-dore-bronze-porcelain-mantle-clock (sold for $425 in 2018)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/65674956_antique-french-ph-mourey-ornate-mantle-clock (sold for $350 in 2018)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/63202102_gilt-bronze-and-porcelain-mounted-mantel-clock (sold for $700 in 2018)
These values are fair market prices. Retail prices for such clocks can be significantly higher. I have priced your example at $400-$500 because of the military them, a bit unusual to find.
I hope to have helped you better understand the type of French mantel clock that you have inherited. It was my pleasure to try to be of assistance.
My best,
David