A large and impressive mid 19th century French gilt and patinated bronze figural mantel clock


retailed by Raingo Frères, Paris, the case cast by Henry Picardsurmounted by the figure of a young boy on naturalistic base and raised on boldly scrolled foliate supports, the 4.5 white enamel dial with black Arabic and blue Roman numerals and pierced hands, the signed movement with silk suspension and outside countwheel striking on a bell, 50cm high
|Henry Picard was first recorded in 1831 living at 6 rue Jarente in Paris. He collaborated with the decoration of Napoleon III's state apartments in the Louvre, especially the large chimney piece; the Napoleon III Apartments are an exceptional record of Second Empire decorative art, decorated between 1859-61.Born in Mons (Belgium), Zacharie Joseph Raingo was an apprentice clock-maker in Paris by 1790; he founded the company Raingo Frères in 1823 with his four sons when he started to have royal commissions. By 1841 he added artistic and decorative bronzes to his enterprise. In 1860 Raingo Frères had a large showroom at 102 rue Vieille-du-Temple, Paris, and supplied Napoleon III and his court.