Beschreibung:

A French Empire ormolu and patinated bronze figural mantel clock Lesieur, Paris, early 19th century The circular eight-day countwheel bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum with silk suspension and stamped with signature Le Sieur to backplate, the circular convex white enamel Roman numeral dial signed Le Sieur a Paris to centre within Arabic quarters to the outer minute track and fine gilt fleur-de-lys hands set within repeating flowerhead cast bezel, the case cast with standing bronze figure of Cupid supporting a bow with his left hand and leaning against a pedestal housing the movement to his right applied with a basket of flowers surmount over lotus leaf cavetto cornice, butterfly spandrel mounts and shallow ogee lappet cast skirt, the base fronted with relief cast floral festoon supported by swans and central crossed arrow wreath over lappet leaf ogee moulded green marble skirt base with gilt disc feet, 44cm (17.25ins) high. Lesier is recorded in Tardy DICTIONNAIRE DES HORLOGERS FRANCAIS as established at Vieille rue du Temple in 1806. He is later recorded as working from rue de la Verrerie 1812-20 and 1830-50; and in 1840 he was at at Boulevard St. Martin. In addition he is also noted in the Paris trade directories as working from Bar-du-Bec in 1839 and in 1840 at rue des Alexiens. Unfortunately there are very few records concerning Lesieur’s life and career but it is possible that he was the clockmaker François-Eugène Lesieur whose inventory made on 29th August 1848 after his death at 43 rue de Romainville, Belleville, near Paris, is kept in the Archives Nationales. Condition report disclaimer