Gilt Brass Clock Appraisal

Late Victorian Champlevé and Gilt Brass Carriage Clock

This is a highly decorative late 19th-century carriage clock featuring a rectangular gilt brass case with ornate architectural details. The case is flanked by four twisted, rope-style columns topped with Corinthian-inspired capitals. The clock face is set within a vibrant blue champlevé enamel mask, which is intricately decorated with gilt floral and foliate vine patterns. The clock dial itself is circular, featuring Arabic numerals and a center painted with a pastoral landscape scene depicting a tower and trees. The clock is topped with a distinctive rectangular handle featuring a central rope-twist motif. Physically, the clock shows significant wear consistent with age, specifically notable loss of gilding on the base and upper cornices, revealing the darker brass or bronze metal underneath. There is visible pitting, oxidation, and surface grime across the metallic surfaces, particularly on the tiered base. The craftsmanship suggests a European origin, likely French, which was the center for such horological pieces in the late 1800s. The hands are dark steel and show a classic spade shape. This piece is a classic example of eclecticism in late Victorian horology, merging mechanical precision with high decorative art.