A late 19th century French ormolu mantel clock by Thiebaut Freres

A late 19th century French ormolu mantel clock by Thiebaut Freres, the eight day brass cased drum movement striking on a bell, numbered '1410' and 'MEDAILLE 'D'ARGENT VINCENTI & CIE, 1855', the white enamel dial with Arabic numerals and painted with swags of flowers, signed 'Thiebaut Frere Paris, 32 Avenue de l'Opera 32', the finely cast and chased case in Louis XVI style, with four bevelled glass panels, with an urn surmount applied with scrolling leaves and a grapevine, with laurel swags and a Bacchus mask, with hoof monopodia feet, on a stepped rouge griotte marble base and on toupie feet, 70.1cm high, 36.5cm wide.

Provenance: The Collection of Sir Jeremy Lever.

Thiebaut Freres started to work as art founders in 1851 under the supervision of Victor Thiebaut. Originally they produced cast raw bronzes for other more prestigious founders to finish. However Victor then began to forge relationships and produce work for some of the most famous sculptors of the day for example: Carpeaux, Pradier and Carrier-Belleuse. In 1884 the firm opened a shop on the 32 Avenue de l'Opera and at that time the firm took part in many exhibitions including the 1889 Paris Universal and the 1893 Chicago Universal Exhibition, where their bronzes were described as 'wonders of casting, chiselling and patina'.