Raingo Frères (Paris) köre

Mandarin amongst the Lotuses – II. Empire Gilded Mantel Clock

Gold-colored, figurative mantel clock: above the dial, a male figure depicted in Eastern attire, wearing a turban-like headgear and armored chest plate, sits at an angle, slightly bending forward, one arm free while the other is bent at the elbow. He crosses his legs, resting the toe of his boot on the stone rim. The composition is diagonal: the figure's center of gravity leads to the upper right curve of the dial, giving the form a "dynamic" character. The case and the chiselled base appear to be cast, refined with later carving/chiseling; the surface is evenly gilded (ormolu effect), with darker tones in places that highlight the relief. The rich ornamentation of the base (palmettes, vine motifs, beadwork, volutes, Greek key pattern) evokes the taste of Historicism / Napoleon III. The play of light and shadow is created by the deep carvings and well-defined folds; the dial features classic Roman numerals. Iconography: "Orientalist" (Turkish/Tatar hero), with sword attributes and plant decoration.
Style Direction: French historicism, Napoleon III era. Date: probably from the 1860s–1880s.

Key Details:

• Turban/Eastern headgear, armor breastplate – orientalist theme characteristic.

• Rocky pedestal, vegetable motifs around the dial.

• Rich, rococo-historicizing chiseling on the case and legs.

• Classical Roman numeral dial with beadwork frame.

• Gilded (fire gilding/ormolu effect) with uniform patina.

Author References

No definitively named creator; based on style and quality characteristics, the following Parisian workshops may be relevant:

• Raingo Frères (active: 1823–1880s) – figurative ormolu clocks and orientalist themes are related.

• Denière et Matelin (c. 1800–1870) – fine chiseling, decorative clock cases of the II Empire.

• Lemerle-Charpentier (c. 1860–1890) – richly decorated, historicizing table clocks.

• Susse Frères (c. 1840–1900) – series-produced, high-quality bronze cases.

• Ferdinand Barbedienne (c. 1839–1892) – high quality chiselled bronzes, though clock cases are rarer.

• Lepaute (18th–19th century) – clockmakers and case suppliers in the Parisian market.

• Vincenti & Cie (c. 1830–1870) – frequent mechanism suppliers, related dials.

• Japy Frères (c. 1806–1900) – industrialized spring mechanisms for many French cases.