Ravrio, Empire Period Clock In Patinated And Gilded Bronze With Mercury - Signed

Patinated and gilded bronze clock representing a vestal dressed in the antique style and leaning against the altar of love. The enamel dial signed by Ravrio bronzier and Mesnil watchmaker. Beginning of the Empire period, around 1805-1810. The Decorative Arts Museum presents exactly the same pendulum in its collections, with a small variant, the muse Erato is holding a leaf in her hand. There are other variations of this clock, where the young woman holds a stylus, or the upper basin is replaced by a lying dog. André Antoine Ravrio (1759-1814) is with Thomire and Claude Galle one of the greatest bronziers of the Empire, supplier to the Emperor Napoleon I. Born in Paris in 1759, he was received as a master founder in 1777 and opened his own workshop in 1790. He ran an important establishment under the Empire. Ravrio supplies furnishing bronzes for the imperial palaces and for a prestigious clientele (Prince Murat, Louis Bonaparte). He died in 1814. Besides his undeniable talent as a bronze maker, Ravrio also leaves the memory of an author (he composes many poems and is the author of some vaudevilles). And more particularly a very great generosity. He was a member of many literary and charitable societies and also the creator of a prize of 3,000 francs to allow the discovery of a preventive means against the dangers of the use of mercury in the exercise of the profession of gilder on metals. Claude II du Grand Mesnil, watchmaker Beautiful model, large in proportions, very elegant and with beautiful finishes at the height of its author (very beautiful mercury gilding in matt and shiny). Excellent condition, complete, no wear to the gilding, the movement has been revised by the watchmaker. Height: 42cm; Width: 39cm; Depth: 12cm