A FRENCH ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK IN LOUIS XVI STYLE BY THIEBAUT FRERES, LATE 19TH CENTURY the eight day brass drum movement striking on a bell, stamped '1410' and 'Medaille d''argent Vincenti & cie, 1855', with a white enamel dial with Arabic hour and five minute numerals and painted with swags of flowers, inscribed 'Thiebaut Frere Paris, 32 Avenue de l'Opera', the case with an urn surmount with mask handles, above four bevelled glass panels mounted with cast and chased fruiting and flowering vines, centred with laurel swags and a Bacchus mask, on foliate hoof monopodia and a stepped rouge griotte marble base, with toupie feet 70.1cm high, 36.5cm wide Provenance The Collection of Sir Jeremy Lever. Catalogue Note Thiebaut Freres started to work as art founders in 1851 under the supervision of Victor Thiebaut. Originally they produced cast raw bronzes for other more prestigious founders to finish. However, Victor then began to forge relationships and produce work for some of the most famous sculptors of the day, including: Carpeaux, Pradier and Carrier-Belleuse. In 1884 the firm opened a shop at 32 Avenue de l'Opera and the same time they took part in international exhibitions, including the 1889 Paris Universal and the 1893 Chicago Universal, where their bronzes were described as 'wonders of casting, chiselling and patina'.