Minerva Athena Portico Clock Louis XVI Period 18th Century 18th Century Gilded Bronze

An important neoclassical Louis XVI period portico clock in white Carrara and black Belgian marble, signed by the clockmaker Roque in Paris. Festoon-patterned gilt bronze ornaments decorate the base on which rest two pedestals with military trophies supporting fluted and asparagus columns, decorated with chains and cannonballs on both the front and back. The pedestals are delimited by axle and chain chases. On the cylinder of the mechanism is perched a figure in the round of an armed Minerva. Signature of the enamel dial and the back plate of the mechanism "Roque à Paris", for Joseph Léonard Roque, received master watchmaker on July 31, 1770. He entered the workshop of Claude-Siméon Passemant where he remained until his death in 1769. The following year Roque registered his master letters and set up his workshop in the Vieux Louvre in the colonnades building, then passage du Saumon from 1772. Roque was appointed watchmaker to the king during his career. Condition: mechanism to be revised, domed glass missing and small superficial loss to the bezel