Bronze cast Wall clock and Barometer by Blot et Drouard

201201A highly decorative matching pair of bronze cast barometer and wall clock, dating from c.1880.  The quality of the casting is excellent, and the nickel-plating, which we believe to be original, gives a soft silver lustre.

The winged goddess arches her back in supporting her heavy load of a round urn, this giving a lovely three-dimensional sculpture.

The 8-day timepiece clock has a 5-inch white enamel dial with Roman numerals, the signature BLOT ET DROUARD  now very much rubbed. It has a pair of matching steel hands.

The timepiece clock movement is also signed Blot et Drouard, and the case and movement are both inscribed with ED in script. It has a short pendulum and is wound weekly through the dial.

The barometer is signed PNHB for Pertuis, Naudet, Hulot & Bourgeois. This company was formed in 1860 and rose to become one of the leading supplier of aneroid barometers in the world, many of their barometers incorporated into other makers’ works, as here. The weather predictions are in French, and the scale in centimetres of mercury. Both hands are very fine.

Both clock and barometer have glazed hinged bezels to the front and rear.

Blot & Drouard was founded in 1855 and located in 1864 at 8 rue des Enfants-Rouges, an address which later became 28 rue des Archives. In 1890 Eugène Bloy (born 1830) was succeeded by his son (also Eugène, born 1857) , who changed the firm’s name to Eugène Blot in 1894. Ledoux-Lebard lists Maison Drouard as being an important manufacturer of the second part of the 19th century.

Having initially specialised in the production of regulators, the house of Blot et Drouard became involved in the activity of foundry and editor of bronzes at the end of the 19th century under the direction of the founder’s son, Eugène Blot. Their gallery was at 5 boulevard Madeleine.

Dimensions of each:

Height: 61 cms (24 inches)

Width 27 cms (10 3/4 inches)

Depth: 14cms  (5 1/2 inches)

Overhauled and guaranteed for 3 years. The price includes delivery within the UK mainland.