An Art Noveau spelter mantel clock, the eight day movement strikes the hours and half hours on a bell, with a countwheel, and is stamped on the backplate with the roulant blanc movement maker 'Ad. Mougin' along with the serial number '2623' and clockmaker's initials 'I.F'. The ivorine dial has stylised Arabic numerals and inner red 'twenty four' hour numerals, coloured swags of flowers and blued steel hands. The case depicts to French rustic lovers sitting atop a tree trunk 'plinth' which is embossed with the sculptors name 'Aug. Moreau' with a further plaque applied to the front on which is written 'Pastorale, par Aug Moreau (Med. D'Or)'. All standing on a shaped rouge marble base with gilt metal floral mounts and feet.
Auguste Louis Marthurin Moreau was born in Dijon in 1834 and died in Malesherbes in 1917 being the youngest son of sculptor and painter Jean-Baptiste Moreau. He studied under his father and also with Aimé Millet, Augustin Drumont and Jean Thomas. Each of the three Moreau brothers, Hippolyte, Marthurin and Auguste, have become renowned for the quality and the beauty of their figurative work. Auguste himself is particularly known for his Art Noveau style figures with his subjects being primarily young maidens sensuously clad in a swirling diaphanous dress and usually decorated with flowers and birds or allegorical and genre scenes incorporating cupids and young children. His style was realistic and graceful, revealing his relation to the other members of the Moreau family. His compositions encapsulate a feeling of innocence whilst incorporating an air of mischievous game. In 1861 Auguste made his debut at the Salon where he would exhibit regularly until 1913.
A. Mougin was a well known maker of roulant blancs, being the rough movements supplied to clockmakers to finish and case. It's known that he supplied such maker's as Roux and Japy. He is recorded as working at Rue des Filles du Calvaire, Paris in 1890 and then also in Herimoncourt from circa 1900 when he was working with his brother.
Height: 22 inches
Price: £1,450.00