Featured Whisper of the Waves Clock

Hey all:

First: I apologize for the slightly blurry images, but I'm sure you'll get the gist.

So: This is a bronze clock and sculpture. The sculpture is called "Murmure des Flots" (Whisper of the Waves) and is signed by Rancoulet, as you'll see. It is 28" tall, 16" wide and weighs about 20 lbs. U.S. I'm guessing its from France, ca. 1900.

The clock appears to be French, with a ceramic dial. I took a photo through the back porthole to get an idea about the movement, but frankly I have no idea who made it. It was point and shoot, because it was total darkness in there and I didn't want to haul the piece around the house without detaching the pendulum. Anyway, there are a couple of parts numbers, but no name.

I have seen these "Murmure" sculptures here and there, but never with a clock. The sculpture is spelter, the clock bronze. They fit together as if designed to do so; therefore, this is not a marriage in the usual antique world sense. I believe some of these sculptures were made to go with this clock model from the get-go.

I know we don't do valuations, but for insurance purposes I'm thinking $1K. Does that seem realistic?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Not a clue but that seems reasonable.

 

On a clock like this the maker of the movement is inconsequential as long as it is original to the piece IMHO.

 

Good to know, Buyingtime. The movement looks original to me, with my limited knowledge

James, the sculptures alone have asking prices from $500-$1K, so I figure with the clock added in a conservative - and hopefully realistic - number would be $1K for the whole thing.

 

French clocks are outside my usual area of interest but I think that figure would be on the conservative side for insurance purposes. You are indeed correct about the value of the figure on it's own and that is a nice clock under it.

 

Thanks again for the input. Is there anybody on this site who's interested in French clocks?

With your opinion in mind, I'm now thinking $1500 replacement.

 

Afantiques opinion is to be held in very high regard on timepieces in my experience.

@afantiques

 

It looks OK, the only odd thing is that you describe the sculpture as spelter and the clock bronze. This is not a combination I have seen before.
I have no idea what the clock market is like where you live,, but insurance valuations are usually inflated so $1500 would probably be near enough, although auction value might be half that or less.

 

Thanks Afantiques, I appreciate you weighing in.

When the sculpture appears elsewhere as a separate item, it is invariably described as spelter. It's consistency and weight is definitely different from the clock, although the color is similar.

So it sounds like $50.00 was a good purchase price for this.

 

I think you did very well!!!

As a side note when I was doing a quick bit of looking around at sculptures bearing that mark they were casting in bronze as well as spelter.

 

Thanks Buyingtime777!!

Cool. You must have a super search engine, because the half dozen I found were all spelter. Regardless, it's good to know that $1500 USD replacement is the figure to work with.

I appreciate your expertise, one and all!

 

I can't find a bronze of that particular sculpture but there are many other sculptures by that artist cast in bronze.

 

Ah, gotcha. You've been an amazing help, Buyingtime.

 

Postscript:

It looks like the clock is Japy Freres (upper left):

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...ock&qpvt=French+Japy+Freres+Lady+Statue+Clock