Just in from Paris, a beautifully crafted heavy dore bronze pocket watch stand, elaborate design with thick easel back and accents of champleve enamel. The piece makes me think of the champleve enamel foundry pieces from the Barbedienne Foundry, as we've had quite a few over the decades and see them in museums like D'Orsay, Paris. I feel quite certain that is the origin for this fine one since not all pieces were maker-marked. Certainly, it is c.1850-1900, and if you pinned me down, I'd put it at c.1880s, the far edge of the Napoleon III era, late Victorian. Large pocket watch for this one, the diameter of that resting circle is 1 3/4" or 45mm. In one image I've shown it with a pocket watch I have lying around which is large and heavy, 46mm at least. Watch is not included. A beautiful piece of French artistry of 140-160 years ago.
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. The old kiln-fired enamel work is excellent, no chips or cracks or loss to the circle, stars, flowers decorative accents. The watch stand is quite a work of art. You'll want it for your favorite larger pocket watch display. Solid and heavy, the hook is slightly bent to one side, but I could and will straighten it ahead of shipment. The very top is also tilted, so perhaps it might have dropped one. I won't try to straighten that one, and will leave it to our buyer. Measurements are noted on the photos.
