Rolling Back the Clock
Sometimes it’s the little details that really make a piece special! The exquisite fire-gilded bronze clock on the parlor mantlepiece is one such example.
A slithering serpent acts as the hands on the clock face, complete with delicate scales and a minute tongue. As the snake marks the time, a strike mechanism sounds on the hour and half-hour; the clear, soft sound indicative of its French origins. Our little snake is far from the only decorative element on the clock, dating to the late 1850s. It is accompanied by an array of figures, including a cherub struggling to hold the reins of a feisty swan!
The entire garniture set, comprising of the clock and two matching candelabras, is a delightfully decadent example of mid nineteenth century décor. The bronze was cast by Henri Picard, a skilled bronze maker and gilder who most notably worked for Emperor Napoleon III in Paris. As such, clocks such as this are referred to as Napoleon III mantle clocks. The movement and strike mechanism are stamped ‘Madaille D’Argent 1855 Vincenti & Cie”. The company of Vincenti & Cie were prominent manufacturers of clock movements who were awarded a silver medal during the 1855 Paris Exposition.
Created by talents artisans, it is of little surprise that the garniture set caught the eye of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Knight Remington, who purchased the set in 1860 while in Paris. Enjoyed by the Remington’s for nearly twenty years, the set was sold to Mr. & Mrs. David Anthony Brayton when they purchased 451 Rock Street in 1878. When the Historical Society took over the residence, the garniture set was bequeathed to the museum, allowing this beautiful treasure to be enjoyed for generations.