Gilt Bronze Skeleton Clock – Empire Period – Signed Henri Laresche In Paris

Gilt Bronze Skeleton Clock – Empire Period – Signed Henri Laresche in Paris. An elegant skeleton clock in finely chased and mercury-gilded bronze, from the Empire period, signed H. Laresche in Paris on the dial. The circular white enamel dial with Roman numerals is surrounded by a richly openwork gilt bronze mount. The exposed movement, of fine quality, reveals the gears and contributes to the characteristic aesthetic of so-called "skeleton" clocks. The whole is surmounted by an imperial eagle with outstretched wings, an emblematic symbol of the Empire style. The structure rests on a circular base supported by four turned columns, adorned with stylized cassolettes and flames. Beneath the movement unfolds a radiant sunburst motif with an Apollo mask, forming the pendulum. A high-quality Parisian piece from the early 19th century, representative of the neoclassical taste of the Empire period. Mechanical key-wound movement, in working order.