Beschreibung:

A FINE FRENCH CHAMPLEVE ENAMELLED AND PAINTED PORCELAIN FOUR-GLASS MANTEL CLOCK GARNITURE SAMUEL MARTI ET CIE, PARIS, WITH PORCELAIN DECORATED BY LEFRANC, LIMOGES, CIRCA 1900 The circular eight-day gong striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by twin mercury capsule bob pendulum incorporating Brocot-type regulation to suspension, the backplate with Samuel Marti et Cie, MEDAILLE D'ARGENT, 1889 roundel to centre over stamped numbers 554, 4 11 to lower margin, the circular porcelain dial painted with cherubs in flight to centre within vertical Arabic hour numeral chapter ring and with scroll-pierced gilt hands within champleve enamelled bezel decorated in varying tones of blue, pink and purple with foliate designs, the case of stretched octagonal section with twin handled urn surmount painted with a globe and navigational instruments to the polychrome leafy scroll enamelled caddy surmount flanked by three pairs of finials each cast as a basket of flowers, the frieze with floral garland painted panel to front and with enamelled leafy trails to sides over bevel-glazed front door flanked by slender polychrome decorated Corinthian baluster pillar uprights and rectangular canted porcelain panels each painted with a scantily clad Classical female dancer within gilt rococo upper and lower margins and signed Lefranc to lower corner, the rear with conforming glazed door flanked by fixed bevelled glass panels, the skirt base matching the frieze but painted with a pair of cherubs examining a globe to front panel, on six leaf-cast compressed bun feet; the twin-handled urn side pieces each with waisted polychrome enamelled neck over shouldered ovoid porcelain body decorated with conforming Classical female emblematic of the arts/sciences attended by a putto, further signed Lefranc to lower margin and with Classical ruin landscape scene to verso, on waisted ring-collared upright terminating in a ogee-outline enamelled disc set onto a hexagonal base further decorated with enamel panels between the rounded angles over disc feet. The clock 38cm (15ins) high, 23cm (9ins) wide, 14.5cm (5.75ins) deep, the side pieces 28cm (11ins) high, 13cm (5ins) wide. Provenance: Private collection, East Midlands. Samuel Marti was a prolific maker of movements and roulant blancs and is noted by Leigh Extence as working from circa 1860 at Le Pays de Montbeliard, Paris. Along with Japy Freres and Roux they set up a business in 1863 to market their movements to such firms as L'Epee. Their Paris address was Rue Vieille-du-Temple from 1870. The porcelain painter 'Lefranc' appears to be unrecorded however a very closely related garniture (with movement by Kremer, Paris) was sold at Christies, New York at their sale entitled Living With Art 15th June 2016 (lot 248) for $5,000. This garniture, as well as been signed 'Lefranc', had green printed marks 'P.P' for Paroutaud Freres, Limoges. From this it would be reasonable to suggest that the porcelain elements decorating the current lot also originated from Paroutaud Freres of Limoges.