A BERLIN (K.P.M.) ROCOCO REVIVAL MANTEL CLOCK

CIRCA 1895, BLUE SCEPTRE AND IRON-RED ORB MARKS, VARIOUS IMPRESSED AND INCISED NUMBERS, GREEN 63. AND GILT 28., THE WORKS BY LENZKIRCH

Details

A BERLIN (K.P.M.) ROCOCO REVIVAL MANTEL CLOCK
Circa 1895, blue sceptre and iron-red orb marks, various impressed and incised numbers, green 63. and gilt 28., the works by Lenzkirch
The circular green porcelain clock face within a ribbon-tied berried laurel wreath and waisted case formed of rocaille scrolls and foliage and encrusted with pendent flowers, surmounted by a figure of a seated nymph, in windblown drapery, holding a garland of flowers, the lower section with two putti and further flowers, flanking a now blank cartouche, raised on a cartouche-shaped base with a scene of 'Wilhelms-Palais', the top and all four sides painted with loose bouquets of exotic flowers within pale-green and apricot moulded foliage enriched with gilt and further decorated with raised Art Nouveau gilt motifs
31½in. (80cm.) high, overall

Lot Essay

According to the 'Modellbuch' in the archives, shape Nr. 4761 was first produced in September 1894. The design for this clock and another long-case example sold at Christie's London, 1 November 2001, lot 54 are characteristic of Alexander Kips, artistic director at the Manufactury. The exuberant flower modelling, rocaille scrolls and putti typical of the neo-rococo style are fully exhibited in the present lot. Apparently the sketch for the scene is no longer in the KPM archives.
A model of this clock, with very similar decoration, given by Kaiser Wilhelm II to his grandmother, Queen Victoria, is in the Royal Collection at Osborne House.

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