18th Louis XVI Mantel Clock, model by Brécourt-Philibert

Exceptional Louis XVI mantel clock from the end of the 18th century, model by the court bronzier Brécourt in collaboration with the Parisian clockmaker Antoine-Marie Philibert.
The first model of this clock was commissioned by King Louis XVI from the Parisian bronzier Brécourt, who had already completed many orders for him: the clock was delivered to the king in 1775 and was intended to adorn his private cabinet; it was made of blue Sèvres porcelain and gilded bronze in the form of an ovoid cup from which jets of water spouted, equipped with dolphin-shaped handles, which recalled by its shape the fountains of the Palace of Versailles.
The clock was very successful with the people who frequented the court, so much so that other models were requested, but made of a different material from that used for the king. It was therefore decided to opt for a cup in white marble with gilded bronze decorations, resting on a white marble base. Of exceptional craftsmanship and exquisite chasing, the clock was completed by the mechanism, made in this case by the Parisian clockmaker Antoine-Marie Philibert, who had a shop at 50, place du Pont Saint Michel and who had married, in 1798, the daughter of the most important Parisian clockmaker of the time, Cronier.

The clock is in excellent condition: every part is original, including the mechanism, the balance, the winding key and the adjustment key. The mercury gilding is authentic and perfectly preserved. The clock is accompanied by a handwritten document belonging to the original family, in which the periodic revisions of the mechanism were noted.

Comparable examples include those preserved at the Château de la Fasanerie in the city of Fulda, Germany, and at the Château de Fontainebleau.
+IMPORTANT NOTE+ Great care must be taken not to confuse this model with apparently identical models produced in copies in the second half of the 19th century.

Comparative bibliography: P. Kjellberg, “Encyclopedia of French watchmaking from the Middle Ages to the 20th century”, Les Editions de l’Amateur, Paris, 1997, p. 214 fig. A.
H. Ottomeyer, P. Proschel et al. “Gilded bronzes”, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 196, fig. 3.13.3.

Measurements
Height 46 cm
Max. length 25 cm
Base 19 x 19 cm