A FRENCH GILDED BRONZE FIGURAL MANTEL CLOCK
by Gervais Durand, after a design by the Comtesse de Biencourt, Valentine de Chaponay (1838-1929), 1879
Originally conceived of by the Comtesse de Biencourt, this dramatic sculptural scene depicting a helmeted and winged Cupid astride a recumbent lion atop the clock face, which rests on the back of a crouching and threatening dragon with coiled tail and outstretched wings; all on a rectangular gilded bronze base inscribed to the bronze “”Comtesse de Bieucourt inv.”” and “”Durand fec.””, further set on a black marble base supported by four spherical brass feet; having an enameled clock face; initialed RL, numbered 4, and dated 1879 on inside back plate; with winding key.
Since all of the pieces designed by the Comtesse de Biencourt were bequeathed to the Mus
