Table clock. Paris, 19th century

RAINGO FRERES. Table clock. Paris, 19th century.
Gilded bronze.
Dial signed: "Raingo Frères, Paris."
Measurements: 36 x 48 x 16 cm.
This table clock, crafted entirely of gilded bronze, is lavishly decorated with a profusion of floral motifs, acanthus friezes, volutes, and more. The dial, signed by the prestigious Raingo et Frères, features both Roman and Arabic numerals. The dial is set in the center of an architecturally inspired structure, with a vaulted ceiling and entablature adorned with reliefs at the base. A trophy bordered by vegetal festoons crowns the ensemble.
The watchmaker and bronze casters Raingo Frères was founded in 1813 by Zacharie Joseph Raingo. Born in 1775 in Belgium, he lived in Tournai, worked in Ghent, and moved to Paris in 1813. In Tournai, he likely crafted one of his first astronomical clocks with a planetarium, which was his specialty. Raingo was appointed “Horloger-Mécanicien” by the Duke of Orléans and “Horloger-Mécanicien du Garde-Meuble de la Couronne” (Supplier to the King of France) in 1824. King George IV of England purchased a planetary clock from Raingo in 1824. In 1834, the company received an honorable mention at an exhibition in Paris. Although the four Raingo brothers were first known as clockmakers, in 1841 they added bronzework and furniture to their repertoire. Known for the quality of their ormolu (gilded bronze), by 1860 Raingo Frères had already supplied bronze works, ornaments, and tableware for the apartments of Emperor Napoleon III and his wife, Empress Eugénie—examples of which are now in the Louvre’s collection. They then produced small models of works by contemporary artists such as Pradier, Carrier-Belleuse, and Auguste Moreau. They also collaborated with the famous cabinetmaker François Linké. In 1862, the company exhibited at the International Exhibition in London. At the World’s Fairs of 1867, 1878, and 1889, the company also won several medals, including a gold medal in 1898. Some of their works can be found in various museums, such as the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, the Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan, and the Royal Palace in Madrid.