Restoration of a Regency mantel clock in brown tortoiseshell and brass marquetry on an oak frame. Without its bronze mounts, this type of piece loses its splendor. When it is restored to its original fittings, its symbols take on their full meaning, as its function is to tell the time. The Fame motif on the escapement and the eagle on the door are perfect examples of this.
Originally, the Fame Phemius is a Greek deity who personifies public reputation. The Greeks call her Phemius (Φήμη), the Romans Fama. Daughter of Gaia, this winged goddess has many eyes and many mouths. Thus, she overhears the secrets of mortals and spreads them. This is why she is both feared and respected. She is the messenger of Zeus, or the assistant of Hermes; indeed, the Romans particularly emphasized this latter aspect.
The eagle, meanwhile, is the emblem of Zeus, and sometimes the god himself, when he transforms into an eagle to abduct Ganymede. It also carries Jupiter's thunderbolts. It therefore holds in its talons a bundle of lightning bolts, or a serpent. Indeed, its claws strike like lightning, and it swoops down on its prey like a thunderbolt. Finally, it is also the bearer of light and the messenger.
State of affairs report
This cartel clock had some significant missing parts and numerous instances of the brass components, sometimes completely detached. The structure was often detached and deformed in places.
The Restoration
First, I removed the loose brass pieces, then cleaned them in a bath before reattaching them. Next, the missing brass pieces were cut out using a marquetry easel and put in place. Furthermore, the case and structure regained their strength thanks to fish glue. Finally, a vacuum-sealed application of glue rehydrated all the veneered surfaces and marquetry.
After that, the removed elements and the new parts were hot-glued together under vacuum using fish glue.
A solvent gel The brass was then deoxidized, and a cleaning with an eraser revived it. Finally, a thin coat of colorless shellac varnish completed the work.
