Empire Clock By Claude Galle & Le Roy Watchmaker

1st Empire period clock in finely chiseled and gilded bronze depicting a winged Apollo playing the lyre. Refined model listed by the famous bronzier Claude Galle (1759 - 1815) received master in 1786. Note that an identical clock adorned the fireplace in the bedroom of the Princess of Moskova née Bonaparte (*see attached document). The perceptual quality of this work is further complemented by prestigious watchmaking signed on the dial: Le Roy - Horloger de Madame (Bazile-Charles Le Roy 1765-1839 appointed watchmaker to her Imperial and Royal Highness Madame Mère de l'Empereur in 1805 ). The movement is part of the architecture of the lyre animated in the center by a delicate openwork rosette of palmettes and foliage, the upper part ends in crooks decorated with swan's necks. The whole rests on a quadrangular terrace receiving on the right the symbols of Cupid such as his quiver and a torch, the facade is richly decorated with a large bucolic frieze with motifs of swans, garlands, flowers and butterflies, while the sides receive wreaths with acacia branches punctuated with torches and arrows. The four feet are shaped like butterflies. The movement with escapement suspended from silk thread strikes the hour and half-hours on a bell (to be revised, missing key and balance). This Empire clock is presented with its original mercury gilding in a beautiful state of conservation. Dimensions: 38 cm high X 30 cm long X 16 cm deep. *Model precisely listed in the work of Jean-Dominique AUGARDE "The workers of time, the clock in Paris from Louis XIV to Napoleon the first" published by Antiquorum. Literature Jean-Dominique Augarde, The workers of time, Geneva, 1996, p.154, fig. 120 Elke Niehüser, French bronze clocks, p.96 fig. 151 & p.233 #753 Tardy, Dictionary of French Watchmakers, p.24 Dupont & Associés – Morlaix, March 10, 2020, for a version of this clock signed Claude Galle Sotheby's – New York, May 23, 2012 Christie's – London, December 13 2001