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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Mantel clock

Mantel clock (pendule de cheminée)

Partially verified

This mantel clock, held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (accession 43.163.24a, b), is a mantel clock (pendule de cheminée) dated to approximately 1775. It is attributed to the French master clockmaker Charles-Nicolas Dutertre, who achieved master status around 1758 and continued his work until his death in 1793. The clock is constructed from a combination of Sèvres porcelain, enamel, gilt bronze, and marble. Measuring 13 5/8 by 10 inches (34.6 by 25.4 centimeters), the piece incorporates porcelain originating from the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres. The design features figurative elements that the museum documents under the subject tags of children and female nudes.

Front view of the mantel clock (pendule de cheminée) featuring a female figure and child sculpture, Sèvres porcelain column, and marble base.
Front view of the mantel clock (pendule de cheminée) featuring a female figure and child sculpture, Sèvres porcelain column, and marble base. — The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
orbiscollectibles.com
Category
Clock · Mantel clock
Maker / attribution
Charles-Nicolas Dutertre
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
43.163.24a, b
Source-reported date
ca. 1775
Source-reported place
France

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Construction and Materials

The main structural components include Sèvres porcelain, which forms the central column of the clock, and a marble base. The porcelain, sourced from the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, exhibits a striped pattern.

Gilt bronze is integrated into the design as both structural and decorative elements, including the surrounding frame of the enamel dial and the ornamentation applied to the marble base. The dial itself is constructed of enamel and features Roman numerals to indicate the time. The overall height of the object is 13 5/8 inches, with a width of 10 inches.

Evidence for this section
  • “Sèvres porcelain, enamel, gilt bronze, marble”
  • “13 5/8 × 10 in. (34.6 × 25.4 cm)”

Attribution and History

The object is attributed to Charles-Nicolas Dutertre, a French master clockmaker. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Dutertre attained his master status around 1758 and remained active until 1793. The clock is specifically identified within the museum's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department as a pendule de cheminée.

The inclusion of porcelain from the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres links the clock to a manufacture that had been under the ownership of the French crown or government since 1759. The museum has assigned subject tags of Children and Female Nudes to the sculpture integrated into the clock case, highlighting the figurative ornamentation present on the piece.

Evidence for this section
  • “attributed to Charles-Nicolas Dutertre (French, master clockmaker from 1758(?), d. 1793)”
  • “Subject tags assigned by the museum: Children, Female Nudes”

Provenance and Documentation

The clock is currently held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art under the accession number 43.163.24a, b. This number indicates the object was acquired by the museum and remains a part of their permanent collection. The museum's documentation classifies the object as a mantel clock (pendule de cheminée) and provides a date of approximately 1775 for its origin.

The museum record serves as the primary source of information for the piece, covering its dimensions, material composition, and maker attribution. The identification number 199401 is associated with this specific entry in the collection database, confirming its status as a catalogued item within the institution's holdings.

Evidence for this section
  • “Mantel clock (pendule de cheminée)”
  • “The museum dates it ca. 1775.”
  • “43.163.24a, b”

Open research questions

  • What specific archival records confirm the attribution to Charles-Nicolas Dutertre?
  • Does the movement contain additional maker's marks or stamps hidden from the exterior view?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Mantel clock (pendule de cheminée)
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerCharles-Nicolas Dutertre“attributed to Charles-Nicolas Dutertre”
Accession number43.163.24a, b“43.163.24a, b”
Dateca. 1775“ca. 1775”
MaterialsSèvres porcelain, enamel, gilt bronze, marble“Sèvres porcelain, enamel, gilt bronze, marble”
Dimensions13 5/8 × 10 in. (34.6 × 25.4 cm)“13 5/8 × 10 in. (34.6 × 25.4 cm)”
Subject tagsChildren, Female Nudes“Children, Female Nudes”

Visible details

  • Enamel dial with Roman numerals
  • Gilt bronze sculptural figures
  • Striped porcelain column housing the clock
  • Marble base with applied gilt bronze decorative bands

Research qualifications

  • Maker attribution is restricted to 'attributed to' by the source
  • General wider collectible type remains unverified

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Mantel clock (pendule de cheminée), ca. 1775

Reviewed 2026-11-02 · Record 5b98345f97

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other mantel clock records