Carmen Moro [1] offered the Governor of the Banco de España this Louis XVI style bronze and porcelain clock from Sèvres, with strike and another in bronze and calamine with two candelabra. This may be the garniture listed in the catalogue as R_5.

In late eighteenth-century France, porcelain clock cases from Saxony, Chantilly, Limoges and (above all) Sèvres enjoyed a boom. The materials used helped bring added distinction to the design of the items and were combined with dials and decorative motifs in gilded bronze. The strong colours used reflected the models seen in the painting.

The less exuberant, straight-lined, models of these clocks (like this one), were made from 1840 onwards. They were adorned with plaques mounted on bronze frames with reproductions of a variety of scenes.

The gilded bronze case of this mantel clock is decorated with seven imitation Sèvres porcelain plaques. The front of the plinth features a countryside scene of six characters playing cards, set in a blue frame. Below it and to either side, there are three other plaques decorated with birds. On top of the plinth, there is a barrel housing the dial and clock movement. At the front, there is another porcelain plaque with flowers and fruits and, on the sides of the barrel, two more, with a bird each. The barrel is flanked by two seated, full-length figures of children in gilded bronze, one adorned with bunches of grapes, holding garlands of flowers in one hand (one is missing). The case is surmounted by a full-length figure of another child holding a garland in both hands. The rest of the case, made of gilded bronze, is decorated with garlands, flowers, entwined ribbons and geometric motifs. The entire clock sits on four feet ending in hooves.

The dial has white enamelled cartouches with the hours in Roman numerals. The centre disc is of white enamel plate decorated with enamelled garlands. It has diamond-shaped hands in blued metal. Two winding holes. The glazed protective cover over the dial is extant.

It has a round-plated French movement. The number 37 can be read on the rear plate. It has two trains, an eight-day going train with a spring motor and anchor escapement and a striking train which sounds the hours and half hours.

Casemakers sought to highlight the distinction between the hard gilded bronze and the fragile porcelain. Art dealers acquired the porcelain from the factories and gave it to the bronze artists to include in their designs. Initially, these consisted of small full-length sculptures, coloured flowers, etc., which completed the motif decorating the case. Later, they were replaced by porcelain plaques. In some cases, the entire case was made of porcelain.

[1] She lived at 13, Calle de Torpedero Tucumán, Madrid.

Amelia Aranda Huete