Impressive antique Victorian era Black Forest hand carved 17" tall mantel clock with ornate foliate decoration and three large game birds figural top! WOW, isn't this one lovely! Exactly what comes to mind when you think of the fine old museum quality Black Forest clocks, isn't it. Beautiful, highly ornate foliate carving throughout and the style is as attractive as they come. The clock case with an attached base or plinth bringing the total height to an impressive 17". The upper portion of the case, consisting of those gorgeous leaves & game bird figures, has been carved from one large solid block of what is surely Linden wood. Just imagine the painstakingly long process of getting from such a large block of wood to what you see here. Amazing! The detail and artistry are superb. Some flaws, as you would expect with a 100 year old wooden clock but the overall visual and decorative appeal are undeniable. A rare beauty, don't miss it!
Very good condition, age & materials in mind. As you can see, and as one would expect, there are some worm or bug holes visible but nothing active. A few glued breaks, the most notable to the neck of the larger top game bird and the front corner of the right side base leg. There is also a bit of wear or fading to a few of the black enamel Roman numerals but no chips or damage to the enamel numeral plaques. The clock mechanism bears the mark of Japy Freres, one of the most notable French clock makers of the 19th century. The mark reads "Japy Freres & Cie., Med. D'Honneur" for the Medaille D'Honneur and dates to 1855. We just got this one back from our clock repairman who oiled and adjusted it. It does work but is a bit temperamental so a bit of patience is required. These old movements do also sometimes get jostled a bit in shipment so you may want to take it to a clock repair shop when you receive it to have it adjusted again so it'll be in tip top working order. See pictures for all measurements.
