Important Louis XVI style Mantel Clock in gilt bronze, alabaster base and faceted white sapphires around the dial ...

Important Louis XVI style Mantel Clock in gilt bronze, alabaster base and faceted white sapphires around the dial, Graux - Marly Frères à Paris, 19th century French work
In the shape of a lyre, this exquisite table clock stands out for its excellent state of conservation, both in the enamel of the dial and in the gilding and in the French-style rhinestones from the mid-19th century and forming part of the decoration of an important Madrid residence. From 1860, Jules Graux's foundry was installed at 8 rue du Parc-Royal. He exhibited at the last national exhibition in Paris in 1849 and again in Paris in 1855. At the London exhibition of 1862, his work was described as "furniture bronzes, cheminée and cheminée fittings, lustres, vases, statues, groupes, objects of table service, malachite gueridon". It is mentioned that they export 35% of their production and that they make bronzes for the Hotel de la Commission. They also contributed to the Paris exhibition of 1867. In 1870, his sons M Graux-Marly took over from his father and, from then on, his works bore the GRAUX-MARLY or GRAUX-MARLY seal. FRÈRES. The foundry is famous for the quality of its cast, chiseled and gilded bronze pieces, such as clocks, candelabras, figurines and other decorative works of art. Jules Graux - Graux-Marly Fondeurs also cast bronzes for many of the most renowned sculptors of the period, including Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (French, 1827-1875), James Pradier - born Jean-Jacques Pradier (Swiss/French, 1790- 1852), Emmanuel Frémiet (French, 1824-1910), Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-1887), Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley (French, 1847-1919), as well as the reproduction of important and popular antique models, of the Renaissance and later. Related bibliography: P. Kjellberg, Les Bronzes du XIX Siecle, Les Editions de l'Amateur, Paris, page 660.