Antique Ferdinand Berthoud Paris clock

[sgoglia]

Dear all,

my parents have an antique clock made by Ferdinand Berthoud which they would really like to know what it is worth, so I said I would post it on some forums and ask.
If anyone can give me any information about it, I would be very gratefull.

This is a picture of it:


The case is white marble, the figurines seem to be gold plated.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

[cogar]

You didn't give dimensions of yours ...... but here is a large one similar to yours.

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/clocks/a-french-large-white-marble-and-ormolu-5377195-details.aspx

[Ipcress]

Would need to see the movement but pretty sure this is not as valuable as the clock Cogar linked to. Assuming the movement is fine, it's more likely to be a few thousand, not twenty.

[sgoglia]

Okay, sorry, I'm very new to this, so I don't realize what is important.

The dimensions are 30 cm wide, 40 cm tall and 15 cm in depth (roughly).

I'm unsure what you mean by movement, but if it is the mechanism - it works perfectly and the clock is actually in everyday use. The rings on the full hour have a really nice tone as well.

[KC]

Are there any markings on the casing (outside)?  If so please post a picture.  Please post a picture of the back side and bottom as well.

By-the-way....Welcome to the forum!

[mart]

Movement is the actual clock works,,not the exterior case !! A well known clockmaker adds to value !! You might want to look and see who it was !! Will likely be engraved on the inside !!

[cogar]

sgoglia said his/her's was .... "an antique clock made by Ferdinand Berthoud" ...... and thus he/she may have been mistakenly referring to the movement and not the casework because ......... the one I cited listed it as, to wit:

THE CASE BY JEAN BEURDELEY, PARIS. THE MOVEMENT BY FERDINAND BERTHOUD, PARIS. CIRCA 1860

[KC]

Yes cogar I agree.  Most people believe the name on the clock face is the maker of the clock - which isn't! 

[mart]

Right !!  Many times the face/ case were different from movement !! Just need to know if its the name on the face, or the movement !! Hopefully they will both match !!

[Ipcress]

Yes cogar I agree.  Most people believe the name on the clock face is the maker of the clock - which isn't! 

It can be.

I think sgoglia has read the name from the clock face though, and looking at the style of the case and the face, the movement is unlikely to be anything special so it will not be a five figure value.

Sometimes the clock face, movement and case can bear three different names, with the clock face possibly bearing a retailers mark.
More often the case is unmarked and the clock face and movement bear two different names.
Sometimes the clock face and movement can bear the same name - as in the one Cogar linked to.

[KC]

Sorry, I didn't quite put how I meant it.  Sometimes the brain goes faster than the fingers.  Oops!

Meant to say they read the name on the clock face (who made the movement) and that isn't who made the housing (marble/ormolu) and figures.

[sgoglia]

Okay, I can see I have some homework. I will try to get the information mentioned when I get home from work.

Thanks everyone for their input.

One question I can answer - the name "Ferdinand Berthoud" is visible on the photo I posted, it is just behind the large dial.

As for other engravings, I have not seen any, however, I have not really looked carefully, so I will check that in the afternoon as well.