8” H x 4.25” W x 2.25” D
See condition notes before purchasing
A refined late 19th-century French cartel wall clock in the Louis XVI Revival style, featuring gilt-bronze ribbon and floral mounts over a warm alabaster body. The circular enamel dial displays delicate hand-painted floral garlands, Arabic numerals, and retains its original blued-steel hands and winding key.
The clock houses an unsigned 8-day French platform escapement movement, a precision mechanism used in fine Parisian clocks of the Belle Époque era. It is a time-only movement, wound once weekly through the central keyhole. The backplate bears French Avance/Retard (Fast/Slow) markings and an engraved production number, typical of Paris workshops connected to Marti and Japy Frères.
While the movement winds and appears complete, it is not currently running and likely requires a standard professional cleaning and oiling after years of dormancy. All internal components are intact, and no replacement parts are visible — a strong candidate for restoration.
Cartel clocks of this type were decorative symbols of refinement in late 19th-century Parisian homes, often hung above a fireplace mirror or salon console. The combination of lustrous gilt bronze and creamy translucent alabaster exemplifies the understated opulence of the Belle Époque.
Cartel is the term for a wall-mounted clock
Provenance & Period
Condition:
Excellent structural condition with age-appropriate wear to gilding and minor surface marks. Enamel dial is free of cracks or restoration. Retains the original key.
Movement winds and appears complete but is non-functional at present — likely due to dried oil within the platform escapement. Professional servicing is recommended if regular use is desired.
