亨利·歐仁·亞德里安·法爾科新古希臘主義鎏金及包漿銅灰藍色大理石神秘人像鐘巴黎，十九世紀五十至七十年代，亞伯特·恩斯特·卡里耶·貝勒斯設計，歐仁·克努售出

款識：簽名 Sociétés des marbres onyx d'Algerie, 24 B^d des Italiens, Paris，機芯蓋印法爾科縮寫 F 及 Calibre 3, no. 7，具 Samuel Marti 章

朱安·哈格羅夫，《亞伯特·卡里耶·貝勒斯之作品與生平》，紐約與倫敦，1977年，圖版207，載1867年巴黎世界博覽會中相同人像及鐘擺之時鐘

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse was one of the most important and innovative sculptor of nineteenth-century France. During his long career at the Paris Salon and beyond, Carrier-Belleuse was responsible for important public monuments, as well as creating decorative sculpture for a diverse clientele. His terracotta models, many of which depict playful mythological subjects, were reproduced widely. Carrier-Belleuse’s prolific workshop became an important training ground for younger sculptors, notably Auguste Rodin, who acted as the master’s assistant between 1864 and 1870.

The distinctive feature of the conical pendulum is that it is in constant motion as opposed to the conventional pendulum which is continuously stopping and starting. The first record of a clock with a conical (rotating) pendulum is a turret clock by Jost Bodeker in 1587. Renewed interest in the nineteenth century saw clockmakers such as John Briggs in England designing a small conical pendulum clock in 1855. However it was Eugene Farcot who really developed the technology. 

Eugene Cornu - The Société des Marbres-Onyx D'Algerie was established under the directorship of Eugène Cornu. The firm mined and fashioned the luxurious Algerian marble and were celebrated for the quality of their production and design. They exhibited, and received great acclaim at the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle displaying a large selection of clocks and other wares, including a monumental conical pendulum clock by Farcot nearly 10 feet in height. Similar to the present lot  see: Hargrove, pl. 207)

Henry Eugène Adrien Farcot (1830-1896) was an established Parisian clock-maker working 1858 - 1890. It is recorded that he exhibited at Paris in 1861, London in 1862, Paris again in 1867, Philadelphia in 1876 and Paris for the last time in 1878.

A pioneering engineer in many fields, Farcot was the most renowned nineteenth century maker of conical pendulum and 'ingenious mystery' clocks, taking out successive patents throughout his long career. Farcot exhibited examples of this magnificent clock on his stands at the London Exhibition of 1862, the Paris Exposition of 1867 and 1878 and at the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition.

The distinctive feature of the conical pendulum is that it is in constant motion as opposed to the conventional pendulum which is continuously stopping and starting. Often described as 'mystery clocks', they were not only novel in design but some of the most accurate time keepers of their period.

The first record of such a clock with a conical (rotating) pendulum is a turret clock by Jost Bodeker in 1587. Renewed interest in the nineteenth century saw a number of clockmakers designing small conical pendulum clocks, however it was Eugène Farcot who really developed the technology.

Notable examples of Farcots conical clocks are to be found in the collections of the National Watch and Clock Museum, Pennsylvania, USA, The Cliffe Castle Museum, Yorkshire, England and as the stunning centrepieces of the lobby of the Roosevelt Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New Orleans, USA, and the Dolder Grand Hotel, Zurich, Switzerland.

Although best known for his work on the conical pendulum, Farcot was a brilliant engineer in many other fields. Amongst other things he was a member of the Aerostatic and Meteorological Society of France, publishing important works on the construction of airships for both scientific research and for pleasure.