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The Antique French ClockTake me to the Auctions! The antique French clock encompasses quite a few designs, most of which are found in examples from other established clock making countries like the UK and Switzerland. However French clocks always have that extra appeal, whether it is because of the extra trouble the French clock makers went with their elaborate case designs, fabulous dials and striking mechanisms I don't know, but most people love them. Some of the most striking design features on French clocks are to be found on the French bracket clock. The French always thought their clocks should be highly decorated items of furniture, much more so than the English, and this was because French aristocracy played a much greater role in clock development. Because they wanted designs to be flamboyant and extravagant, French clock makers could do little else than deliver what was demanded of them - and this they did with style and passion. French Bracket Clocks
The dial can be the most ornate you are likely to see on any antique French clock, with enamel inlaid chapter rings on early clocks moving to porcelain dials later. The use of all manner of materials like ivory, cloth, leather and glass covers to protect them was also almost exclusively French in design. Clocks with glass protective covers almost always have enamel or porcelain dials. Applied metal finishing to the case may include the use of brass, gold, gilded bronze and silver. Later 18th century clocks also used marble as a base or stand for some clocks. French Longcase Clocks Easily distinguishable from its English counterpart, the French Longcase clock is a rather shapely looking antique French clock. With its graceful round top surrounding the dial and elegantly shaped case, the French certainly knew how to produce an item of sheer beauty. Many of the cases were adorned with ormolu decoration and marquetry inlay. The dial is likely to be silvered, have a protective glass cover and have a brass bezel. This type of antique French clock is of such beauty that not many come up for sale today and I can well understand why. Often incorporating complex movements with seconds, moon-phase, date, as well as quarter hour striking, these clocks are highly sought after and valuable. French Skeleton Clocks Dating mainly from the late 1870s, skeleton clocks have a considerably simpler design than many of their counterparts, like the longcase and bracket clock. They are relatively rare because not that many were produced, so collectors worldwide place a high value on them. Standing on a wooden or marble base, you will often find extra dials showing minutes, day and date. Dials generally have a white enamel finish and may have a hole through which the main movement can be seen. The movement itself will consist of both a fusee or going barrel and either a pin wheel or anchor escapement.
Cartel Clocks One strikingly different wall clock that the French produced from 1750 onwards is the Cartel clock. This antique French clock has a cast brass and gilded case, enamel dial and a spring driven movement with verge escapement and going barrel. All of these clocks are of 8-day duration and just about all will either strike hours or quarter hours. These clocks are easily identified by their exquisite case decoration; flowers, figurines, scrolls and foliage are the norm. If you turn these clocks around you will find that the back is always in an unfinished and quite rough-looking state, this is quite normal. Most of the hands used are highly ornate with delicately cut brass finishing. Happy Collecting!
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Early French brackets are easily distinguishable from their English counterparts first by the elaborate case design, as stated above, but also for their choice of movement which is using a verge escapement with a going barrel rather than the English fusee. They almost all have a striking mechanism that sounds the hours and sometimes half-hours. 
One thing that you should always look out for is one of these clocks with its own original glass dome that sat over the clock protect it. Not many have survived and they are now highly sought after and of course, much more valuable than one without. 
