Antique porcelain, silvered and parcel gilt brass clock set

This set is comprised of a mantel clock and a pair of flanking vases. The items are crafted from brass which has been silvered, parcel gilt and finely hand-painted.

The clock stands on four parcel gilt and silvered scrolled feet with geometric tops. These support a rectangular silvered base which is decorated with porcelain plaques, painted with cherry blossom branches. The front of the base is mounted with a silvered lion mask with gilt eyes, ears and mouth. A band of gilt stylised acanthus leaves and silvered scrolls extends along the top edge of the base.

Surmounting the base is a tall rectangular clock body, the front and sides of which are decorated with porcelain plaques within gilt acanthus leaf frames. These plaques are painted with colourful depictions of butterflies and birds perched on flowering cherry blossom branches. The front plaque features a sulphur-crested cockatoo with a red sun in the sky on the right. The clock’s rectangular body is crowned by an arched top which contains a circular porcelain dial. This dial features a painting of a pair of birds on a cherry branch at its centre, encircled by black Roman Numerals within white cartouches. The dial is indistinctly signed 'M SMITH & CO' and is set within a gilt beaded bezel. A gilt floral band decorates the clock’s arched top, along with a sculptural gilt scrollwork border. The shoulders of the clock are mounted with parcel gilt silvered elephant masks holding ring handles with their trunks. The clock is surmounted by a twin-handled covered urn which is silvered, parcel gilt and painted with pink cherry blossoms.

The pair of vases that accompany the clock are of similar design. They stand on silvered square bases set on geometric and scrolled feet. The vases feature silvered stems, the top of which are encircled by gilt stiff-leaf bands. Their silvered bodies and necks are decorated with colourful shapes, cherry blossoms and exotic birds, and their shoulders mounted with silvered and parcel gilt elephant masks holding ring handles. The vases are topped by silvered domed lids which are edged with crenulations and crowned by pointed silvered and parcel gilt finials.

Clock: Height 52cm, width 28cm, depth 17cm
Vases: Height 41cm, width 15cm, depth 11cm