The gilt wooden frame of this wall clock, with its sinuous outlines, is decorated with carved and gilded plant and flower motifs. At the top, there is a crest with large volutes and acanthus leaves. Around the dial is a wooden plate decorated with floral motifs in mother-of-pearl, with oil and watercolour polychrome. It has a glass protecting the dial.

The dial is of alabaster, with raised white enamelled hour cartouches framed in gilded brass. The hours are in blue-painted Roman numerals. The minutes are displayed in segments. The centre disc features an openwork decoration simulating a Gothic rose window. Blued metal hands. The hand stem is ornamented with a gilded brass flower. Two winding holes.

The clock has a two-train French movement, with an eight-day spring-driven going train. Anchor escapement and pendulum. Striking-train with gong.

The winding key is extant.

This widely-sold type of clock was designed to imitate eighteenth-century models. In some regions of southern France bordering Switzerland, several different models were produced, with powerful movements, but simple cases. Because the movements were long-lasting and did not require frequent repair, they were in high demand. Some models with similar dials were manufactured in the Morez region in the mid-nineteenth century.

Amelia Aranda Huete