Louis XIV-style mantel clock. Germany. Franz Hermle, ca. 1980.

Louis XIV-style console clock. Germany. Franz Hermle, ca. 1980.
Stained and lacquered wooden frame with brass and imitation tortoiseshell marquetry.
Gilded metal accents.
Dial with enameled cartouches and Roman numerals.
Comes with a key.
Signed.
In working condition.
Measurements: 76 x 36 x 15 cm.

A bracket clock made by Franz Hermle around 1980, modeled after French designs in the Louis XIV style. The case features a curvilinear profile, sinuous supports, and abundant decoration with rocaille motifs, volutes, and plant motifs in gilded metal, in a clear historicist reinterpretation of 18th-century bracket and table clocks.

The surface combines dark backgrounds with brass and imitation tortoiseshell marquetry, following the decorative tradition associated with Boulle furniture, though in a contemporary execution. The dial, with its richly ornamental composition, incorporates enameled cartouches with Roman numerals and a minute track around the perimeter, reinforcing the piece’s decorative character.

The top finial featuring a winged figure, the gilded embellishments, and the lower scene depicting a child lend the piece a distinctly theatrical presence. This is a visually striking piece, designed for classical or eclectic interiors, where it stands out both for its vertical format and the rich ornamentation of the case.