A FINE GILT BRASS, BRONZE AND VERDE ANTICO MARBLE ELECTROMAGNETIC FOUR-GLASS MANTEL TIMEPIECEBARDON, CLICHY, CIRCA 1925The four-pillar rectangular movement with vertical sprung detent electrical contacts engaging with a ratchet wheel advanced with each left-hand swing of the pendulum (via a sprung pawl fitted to pendulum rod) to momentarily switch power to the electromagnetic coils positioned beneath the horseshoe magnet pendulum bob in order to provide magnetic impulse for a brief moment during one period of oscillation, the pendulum with sprung suspension and rating nut annotated R A within a gilt disc to the bob, the backplate stamped with serial number 942 to the ratchet-wheel cock and the plates enclosing motionwork, the 4.5 inch circular white enamel dial signed L. Bardon, B'TE S.G.D.G. to centre within vertical Arabic hour numeral chapter ring, with blued steel hands within engine-milled gilt bezel surround, the bevel-glazed case with patinated bronze surmount cast as a lion resting its front left paw on a gilt ball over marble cavetto cornice and frieze bordered with lappet-leaf cast gilt mouldings to lower edge, the front with gilt-framed door flanked by free-standing Corinthian columns, the sides with further columns set at the rear and the back with door matching the front, the interior with battery now hung behind the movement over central black Bakelite disc to the surface beneath the pendulum bob moulded with L. B. sparking pagoda trademark over S.G.D.G. and incorporating further R A regulation adjustment lever to leading edge, on marble skirt base with repeating lotus leaf ogee top mouldings and engine-milled gilt feet.51cm (20ins) high, 29cm (11.5ins) wide, 16cm (6.25ins) deep.The design of the current lot was developed by Etablissments L. Bardon of 61 Boulevard National, Clichy, Seine, France around 1920 and utilises a coil positioned beneath the horseshoe-shaped magnet forming the pendulum bob to provide impulse the oscillation of the pendulum. Bardon's design was highly regarded for its accuracy which in part was due to the facility to fine-tune regulation both by adjusting the length of the pendulum (via a knurled screw to the bob) and by adjusting a lever set within the base which impedes the magnetic impulse given to the pendulum.Most Bardon timepieces are housed in fairly plain four-glass cases, the current lot, complete with marble sections and bronze lion surmount, was clearly very much a deluxe model.