Napoleon III Rococo Revival Brass & Crystal Clock Garniture with Scrollwork Urns
Napoleon III Rococo Revival Brass & Crystal Clock Garniture with Scrollwork Urns
Design & Inspiration
Place this three-piece garniture on a console table or sideboard and the room immediately acquires a different register — one where time is measured not only by the clock face but by the quality of what surrounds it. The central clock rises on a faceted crystal orb above an engraved crystal urn body, its cartouche crown alive with cast gilt brass C-scrolls and acanthus foliage. Flanking it, two matching urn stands repeat the composition: scrolled brass handles sweeping outward from etched crystal columns, each piece anchored to a footed brass plinth chased with floral reliefs. This is a Napoleon III Rococo Revival garniture — a form that flourished in Second Empire Paris between 1852 and 1870, when French decorative arts embraced the exuberance of 18th-century Rococo through the lens of industrial-era casting and engraved glasswork.
Materials & Craftsmanship
The framework is cast gilt brass, worked to a depth of ornament that only hand-finishing can achieve. The scrollwork is not stamped — each tendril and leaflet carries the slight variation in surface texture that marks work shaped and chased by hand. The crystal bodies are precision-engraved with rose and foliate motifs, the cut surfaces catching light and scattering it across the room in a way that plain glass cannot replicate. The faceted crystal connector sphere between clock face and urn body is a deliberate compositional decision: it interrupts the vertical axis with a burst of refracted light, a device the Napoleon III period used to give height to mantelpiece arrangements without increasing mass. The clock face retains a period-appropriate dial with Arabic numerals set in a silvered surround, driven by a reliable quartz movement concealed within the ornate case.
Dimensions & Details
Width: 19 cm / Height: 53 cm (clock piece) — the flanking urn stands share the same body proportions. Total set weight: 4 kg. The set comprises three pieces: one central clock and two matching urn candelabra stands. Brass finish available in multiple options; crystal body is clear with engraved decoration throughout.
Handcrafted in Egypt
Every piece in this garniture is handcrafted in Egypt by artisans trained in classical European metalwork and glasswork traditions. Brass & Wood's workshops combine traditional casting and hand-chasing techniques with modern quality standards, producing replicas that honor the original Napoleon III decorative vocabulary without compromise. Each set is inspected individually before dispatch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials is this garniture made from?
The framework and ornamental elements are cast gilt brass, hand-finished and polished. The urn bodies and connector sphere are engraved crystal glass. The clock movement is quartz.
Is assembly required?
Minimal assembly is required — the clock cartouche crown and the urn bowl elements are seated rather than permanently fixed, allowing safe shipping and simple placement on arrival.
Can this garniture be customized?
Yes. Brass & Wood offers customization on brass finish (Gold, Silver, Antique Gold) and can discuss bespoke sizing for interior design projects. Contact our team for details.
