An important and rare gilt-bronze mounted blue john 'cercles tournants' mantel clock garniture, French, circa 1875

the bell striking Vincenti movement with ratchet tooth lever platform escapement mounted on the backplate, connected to two horizontal revolving enamel chapter rings, the hour ring with fleur de lys half-hour markers, the urn case with a moulded cover and berried finial, a serpent entwined at the shoulder indicating the time with an arrowed tongue above very finely cast and chased rams masks joined by ribbon-tied floral swags, the square base with mask and lyre mounts, acanthus moulding and black marble plinth; together with a pair of matching campana-shaped vases with conforming mounts      

Clock movement is complete but in need of a clean and some fresh oil. Enamel chapter rings in very good condition. Gilt mounts in very good condition. Blue john is of good colour, old repairs to foot of urn and one or two very minor edge chips to the cover, neck and base corners. The vases as the clock.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Although records show awareness of Blue John, a rare form of banded fluorite, as early as 1671, it is only after 1760 that note is taken of the mining of Blue John and the production of both decorative objects and jewellery in virtually every book written on the Peak District of Derbyshire. Mined near the village of Castleton in Derbyshire, many of the great stately homes patronized the crafts which were produced. In particular, Kedleston Hall, near Derby, designed by Robert Adam has marble fireplaces with Blue John inlays. The celebrated English craftsman Matthew Boulton was a friend and professional associate of Robert Adam and was engaged to produce fittings and objects to Adam's designs for Osterley Park, Syon and Kenwood Houses, near London.

The end of the seven years' war in 1763 led to the importation of French ormolu objects into England and Boulton saw an opportunity to produce his own versions of these objects from about 1767 onwards. In 1769 Boulton started to make substantial purchases of Blue John and seems to have achieved something of a monopoly in this area. The question of how the Blue John was transported is less clear, some accounts hold that the Blue John was turned and polished at Castleton to specified shapes and sizes; other accounts say that the rough stone was shipped to the works in Birmingham where it was turned and finished. It is possible that both accounts are accurate.

A pair of vases in the Wallace collection are possibly one of the earliest examples of Blue John mounted in French ormolu which dates to circa 1765 (Peter Hughes, The Wallace Collection, Catalogue of Furniture, London, 1996, Vol. III, p. 1392, no. 288 F 345,346), suggesting that the Parisian marchands-merciers were exploiting this commodity even before Matthew Boulton's first large purchase in 1769.

The ram or goat head combined with floral swags was used by Boulton in his mounts on blue john vases.  This very fine garniture combines the best of the 18th Century French and English designs and forms with exceptionally crisp 19th Century modelling and chasing.