Clock "allegory Of Maritime Commerce" Signed Jn Bᵗᵉ Helye, Paris, Louis XVI Period

A refined Parisian mantel clock depicting an allegory of maritime trade and prosperity.
The case takes the form of a boat on the waves, symbolising navigation and commerce.
At the centre sits the dial, framed by two finely modelled figures: to the left, a draped female deity, likely Fortune or Abundance, pointing to an inscribed scroll that celebrates prosperity; to the right, a turbaned man in Oriental attire, representing trade with the Levant. At the prow, a winged putto retrieves an anchor, while barrels and bales evoke maritime cargo and abundance.

The clock rests upon a white marble base embellished with gilt-bronze scrolls, rosettes and floral ornaments in Louis XVI taste.
The enamel dial bears the signature Jn Bᵗᵉ Helye – à Paris, which also appears on the movement’s backplate.
Jean-Baptiste Helye, recorded as a Parisian master clockmaker in 1762, was renowned for the precision of his Paris movements and for working with prominent bronze casters of his time.

The Paris movement features silk-thread suspension, striking the hours and half-hours on a bell. The mercury gilding remains largely original, with fine chiselling and warm tonality typical of the late 18th century.

Condition: very good, with original gilding showing minor age wear; enamel dial with old hairlines near the winding holes; strike and movement not tested over long duration.

Dimensions:
Height - 48 cm
Width - 40 cm
Depth - 19 cm