Napoleon III clock in gilt bronze and porcelain plates

French Napoleon III clock in finely chased gilt bronze with hand-painted Sèvres porcelain plates.

The plate represents a gallant scene, the upper part presents a very elaborate chisel inside which is an enamelled porcelain dial.

The final part is enriched by the presence of a cherub in a joyful attitude.

The gilding is galvanic.

Galvanic gilding: The discovery of the galvanic technique began in 1791 when Luigi Galvani discovered the electric fluid, that's why all the electrolysis processes are called galvanostegia which derives from his family name Galvani.

Galvanic gold plating is actually a type of electrochemical process in the so-called galvanic bath, a thin layer of gold is made to adhere to a metal using an electric current.

This current carries positively charged gold ions and adheres to the negatively charged metal. The result is that a uniform and thin layer is deposited.

General conditions : Complete with pendulum and key with perfectly working mechanism.

Provenance : France (1860/80)

Signature : Bordon in Montpellier.

Dimensions : 33x15 H45cm.