A Very Fine French 19th Century Gilt-Bronze Figural Mantel Clock, Hologe à Poser, by Fedinand Barbedienne, The enamel dial signed F. Barbédienne & Cie. / A Paris, the twin train movement stamped with the Vicenti pastille and further inscriptions reading AB / 567.

P. Kjellberg, Encyclopedie de La Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XXe siècle, 1997, pp. 214-215, for an illustration of the 18th century model by Étienne Martincourt.

On the basis of a recently discovered signed drawing, the original design for the present model can now, firmly, be attributed to Etienne Martincourt (d. 1791), reçu maître en 1762. The elegant female seated figures flanking the clock case represent Sidereal and Terrestial Time, commonly called Astronomy and Geography. In a French revolutionary inventory of Louis XVI possessions, a clock supplied for the King at the Salle du Conseil at the Tuileries is described: "N0.5: Une pendule en forme de vase ornée de deux figures représentant l'astronomie et la géographie, le tout en cuivre doré et or moulu, le mouvement à sonnerie - 2 pieds de haut et 1 pied 6 po. de large - par Charles le Roi, Chez M. Robin. " This clock is now in the permanent collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu.

Ferdinand Barbédienne (1810-1892) started his Parisian foundry in 1839 and quickly became one of the most active and distinguished French bronziers of the 19th century. In addition to bronze reductions originating from Barbédienne's previous partnership with Achille Collas, the firm also produced decorative objects in styles reflecting the various exotic and revival trends popular at the time. After Ferdinand's death the business was taken over by his nephew, Leblanc-Barbédienne, continuing until 1953.