Directoire Pendulum In Gilt Bronze With Mercury: Fidelity

This Directoire clock (1795-1799), in sumptuously decorated gilded bronze, represents a woman and her dog in an allegory of fidelity. The movement is set in an octagonal case and around the bezel of the movement is a second octagonal shaped knurled bezel decorated with shell motifs. This clock is flanked by two circular half-columns decorated with vine garlands and topped with a vase. At the top, we see the woman sitting on a fountain, while a dog sits next to her and the fountain spouts water into a basin. The entire scene is placed on a base mounted on four spinning top legs with a frontal bas-relief representing a basket of flowers, fruits and pastoral attributes. The representation of the woman and her dog, a faithful animal, testifies to the taste of the end of the 18th century, very inclined to offer scenes of daily life. Water, suggested by the fountain and the numerous shells, is an essential element for life, and its presence is generally interpreted as a regenerative element. A version of this clock with a spinner is in the collection of the Mobilier National in Paris. This clock is in excellent condition with its magnificent original mercury gilding. The spinner spindle is missing. The eight-day movement has a silk-thread suspension and strikes the hour and half-hour. Perfect working condition.