17th Sep, 2025 11:00

Dawsons Discovery

 
Lot 41
 

A French Empire bronze, gilt bronze and griotte d'Italie marble mantel clock, by Antoine-André Ravrio (1759 - 1814), the white enamel dial inscribed 'Ravrio/ Bronzier à Paris' and 'Mesnil Hr', and with Roman Numerals and Arabic calendar numerals, Breguet hour and minute hands, the case depicting Virgil with a stylus and scroll looking at a bust of Homer on the dial case with wreath and ribbon tie mounts, on a red marble base with gilt bronze plaque depicting Virgil reading the Aeneid before Augustus and Livia, with Octavia fainting behind, the whole on part reeded pad feet, the French twin train movement with silk suspension and count-wheel striking on a bell, movement 11 cm diameter, case 65 cm high, 42.5 cm wide

Footnote:
A similar example of this clock is retained by Sweden's Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and is titled 'Allegory of the Poet's Art'.

Sold for £5,500


Condition Report

Some chips and wear to the edge of the enamelled dial, and some scratches to the centre. Some tarnishing of the case. Slight chipping to the edges of the matrble. Door for movement enclosure missing, Silk suspension requires replacement. Lot includes a pendulum, but no key. The movement has not been tested.

 

A French Empire bronze, gilt bronze and griotte d'Italie marble mantel clock, by Antoine-André Ravrio (1759 - 1814), the white enamel dial inscribed 'Ravrio/ Bronzier à Paris' and 'Mesnil Hr', and with Roman Numerals and Arabic calendar numerals, Breguet hour and minute hands, the case depicting Virgil with a stylus and scroll looking at a bust of Homer on the dial case with wreath and ribbon tie mounts, on a red marble base with gilt bronze plaque depicting Virgil reading the Aeneid before Augustus and Livia, with Octavia fainting behind, the whole on part reeded pad feet, the French twin train movement with silk suspension and count-wheel striking on a bell, movement 11 cm diameter, case 65 cm high, 42.5 cm wide

Provenance

Footnote:
A similar example of this clock is retained by Sweden's Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and is titled 'Allegory of the Poet's Art'.

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