French Clock, Circa 1830

A gilt French clock, signed Lepine & Neveu. The movement features a Swiss lever escapement and a striking mechanism for the hours and half-hours on a small bell. Regarding the representation of King Francis I's symbol on a 19th-century clock, here is an explanation. Francis I (1494-1547) used the crowned salamander as a legendary symbol of the power of the Kingdom of France. This animal feeds on flames and can regenerate itself. Francis I adopted this emblem from his father, Charles of Orléans. The salamander as a royal symbol would later reappear during the reign of Louis-Philippe, who was Duke of Orléans before ascending the throne in 1830. A salamander on a clock could therefore also refer to "eternity," to "beyond time," since the animal is believed to be able to regenerate after injuries and survive fire, or at least that was the prevailing belief.