Eclectic Collection of Estates Worldwide

During the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 19th century, French interior design experienced a shift. Decorative pieces such as mantel clocks became more ornate with the use of gilt bronze and ancient imagery, a departure from the serious English pieces popular at the time. The upcoming Eclectic Collection of Estates Worldwide auction, offered by Akiba Antiques, will feature several of these French mantel clocks from the Empire period. One of the leading clocks shows a woman carrying sheaves of wheat, visually balanced on either side by a farmer harvesting his field and an ox pulling machinery. True to the prevailing style of the period, this clock includes elaborate details favored by the French. It has a white enamel dial below the central figure, a detailed bezel, and ormolu animals on the front. 

Other French Empire clocks in the sale follow a similar style. A mantel clock attributed to Louis-Isidore Choiselat, a Parisian bronze caster, shows two boys carrying the dial on a bale of cotton. A chained monkey perches on top while netting hangs in the space between the figures. Another clock emphasizes the classical motifs popular during the 19th century, showing Cupid and Psyche leaning on a pedestal. Based on the Greek and Roman myth surrounding the god of love, the couple is shown examining a gilt butterfly in Cupid’s hands. A 20th-century clock depicts a group of cherubs carrying absinthe vines. Examples of Gothic Revival and Lalique glass mantel clocks are on offer as well. 

Beyond clocks, this auction will also highlight furniture and decorative art. From the Edwardian era is a metamorphic dressing table by George Betjemann & Sons, a London-based cabinetmaking firm that specialized in unusual furniture mechanisms. The available table opens to reveal four lifting sides and an adjustable mirror. For more information on these lots, as well as Asian art items, jewelry lots, and sculptures by Ernest Trova, visit Bidsquare.