170. 170W A Louis XVI style ormolu garniture comprising a mantel clock by Victor Paillard, after a model of Etienne Martincourt, and a pair of seven-light figural candelabra, second half 19th century The mantle clock with twin handled foliate urn-shaped clock with enamelled dial signed 'VICTOR PAILLARD - FT. DE BRONZES - A PARIS', flanked by two seated draped figures emblematic of Astronomy and Geography, the stepped base with flowerhead-filled panels and on shaped rectangular socle and turned feet; the candelabra each with draped standing muses holding aloft elongated urns issuing the scrolling foliate branches terminating in conforming vine and foliate drip-pans and nozzles, on a swagged medal fronted base with laurel border and conforming turned feet; the reverse of the mantle clock with oval mark of Victor Paillard, the pendule: 57cm wide, 26cm deep, 70cm high (22in wide, 10in deep, 27 1/2in high), the candelabra: 44cm wide, 39cm deep, 97cm high (17in wide, 15in deep, 38in high). The celebrated c.1765 design of this Louis XVI clock was originally modelled by the ciseleur Etienne Martincourt. In a revolutionary inventory of royal possessions, a clock of the same model is described as belonging to Louis XVI: N.5: Une pendule en forme de vase ornée de deux figures représentant l'astronomie et la géographie , le tout en cuivre doré et or moulu, le mouvement à sonnerie - 2 pieds de haut et 1 pied 6 po de large - par Charles le Roi, Chez M.Robin. See J. Paul Getty Museum, Selections from the Decorative Arts, Malibu, 1983, pp.64-65. (Accession number 73.DB.78). Victor Paillard (1805-1886) trained as a ciseleur he became the pupil of Jean-François Denière and a collaborator of Ferdinand Barbedienne. By 1830, Paillard established himself as a maker of 'bronzes of art and furnishing' in Paris. In 1851 his refined techniques in metal finishing caused great admiration at the London Great Exhibition where comments mentioned 'Mr. V. Paillard excels in the novel art of oxidising bronze. His silver hues are perfect and, at first glance, deceive even an expert eye...'. As well as undertaking his own commissions, Paillard also undertook the casting for a number of the most famous sculptors of the day including Barye, Carrier-Belleuse, and Feuchère among other. As such he was to run one of the most successful and admired foundries in France.