Movements stamped Denlau & Borius Fabricants, Paris.

A rare French silvered, patinated and gilt bronze animated industrial clock depicting a Wallace fountain. The multi-finished sculpted case has a decorative rotunda above with silver caryatids and stands on a black Belgian marble base. In the center are the silvered clock and barometer dials. The separate animation movement is located behind the time movement, is wound through the back and spins the glass rod that depicts the fountain water for several hours.

Wallace fountains are public drinking fountains named after, financed by and roughly designed by Sir Richard Wallace. The final design and sculpture is by Wallace’s friend Charles-Auguste Lebourg. They are large cast-iron sculptures scattered throughout the city of Paris, France, mainly along the most-frequented sidewalks. A great aesthetic success, they are recognized worldwide as one of the symbols of Paris. A Wallace fountain can be seen outside the Wallace Collection in London, the gallery that houses the works of art collected by Sir Richard Wallace and the first four Marquesses of Hertford.