Table Clock. Gilt Bronze. 19th Century.

Table clock. Gilded bronze. 19th century.
Working mechanism.
Gilded bronze table clock with a powerful base, enriched with feet decorated with plant and architectural motifs of classical inspiration and a series of details on the front (windings on the beveled corners, volutes and a center with a globe from which light radiates and a volute, with inscriptions on both), as well as bands of simple architectural elements and simple spaces to highlight these decorations. On this pedestal is placed a volute for the dial (white, with Roman numerals for the hours and lines for the minutes, Breguet-type hands), surrounded by a garland. In this area there is a male figure, dressed in clothing reminiscent of the Renaissance, holding a drawn sword; in addition, a series of elements have been placed on the part of the dial (a globe, documents with cursive texts in French, etc.). The allusion to science is clear in the prominent presentation of the documents with their respective texts and the sphere. The detail of the sword refers to war. It would therefore be a figure that would bring together wisdom and action, uniting the two in the knight of a certain era, as should be the case in a sovereign or people of a certain social class. The best examples of bronze table clocks were made in France in the 19th century, or so it was believed. This is due to the care with which the manufacture of the applications and bronze elements was organized and regulated, to the technique of mercury-gilded bronze and to the participation in the creative process of first-rate artists who were responsible for the design of the figures and decorative motifs (it was also not uncommon to make figures inspired by or more directly copying great works of the History of Art). The resulting clocks were highly prized and were used to decorate the interiors of palaces and notable residences. Machines in working order.
Dimensions: 43x17x55 cm