Brass mantel clock with painted enamel dial by L. Marti

This French brass mantel clock was manufactured by L. Marti et Cie, a renowned Parisian clockmaker active from the mid-19th century through the early 20th century. The company earned a silver medal (Médaille d'Argent) at the 1889 Paris Exposition Universelle, marking their clocks as quality timepieces of the Belle Époque era. These clocks typically featured eight-day movements with striking mechanisms and were housed in ornate brass cases with decorative finials and painted enamel dials depicting pastoral or romantic scenes. French mantel clocks from this period are highly prized by horological collectors and enthusiasts of decorative arts for their craftsmanship, historical significance, and aesthetic appeal. The combination of precise mechanical movements, quality brass construction, and hand-painted enamel work makes these clocks desirable to collectors of antique timepieces, French decorative arts, and Belle Époque memorabilia. The L. Marti name adds provenance value, as the maker's reputation for quality and their award-winning status at the 1889 exposition enhance both historical interest and market value.