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31483C.M
F. BAETENS, GERRARD STREET, LONDON. A SMALL ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK OF FIGURAL FORM. CIRCA 1820.

A very attractive figural mantel clock. The case, standing on four nicely chased feet, has a fire gilded plinth with an applied frieze of flaming beacons and floral swags which are nicely cast. Standing on a well chased and gilded pedestal is a Romanesque bronze figure of a lady holding a tablet and a staff and to the right, above the bronze housing for the clock, there is a gilded bust of a bearded man.

The 3.5" enamel dial is surrounded by a gilded cast bezel. It has Roman numerals and moon shaped hands. The single chain fusee movement is of the usual fine quality that one finds on Baetens’ work and is signed for the makers in two places, one being on the inside of the front plate and the other on an applied plaque on the backplate. We have seen this on a number of clocks by this maker. Both signatures read ‘F. Baetens, 23 Gerrard Street, London.’ The clock has a nicely shaped heavy pendulum with a small brass bob.

Height: 12" (31 cms.)

Price band: A

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The makers F. Baetens specialised in figural mantel clocks, very often timepiece only and always of fine quality. They are noted as working in the first part of the 19^th century.

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