Desk clock; France, Louis Philippe period, c. 1840.

Desk clock; France, Louis Philippe period, c. 1840.
Mercury gilt bronze with porcelain enamel dial.
It has Paris machinery and silk thread suspension.
Preserves key and pendulum.
Signed Honoré Pons
Measurements: 55 x 42 x 16 cm.
Table clock made of gilded bronze from the early nineteenth century. The piece has been conceived through a sculptural concept characteristic of this time. It consists of a base of sharp edges and staggered in height. In the upper part of the base, there is a representation of a young lady standing on the clock case, which has a dial with Breguet hands and Roman numerals. This type of scenes were very common in the decoration of the table clocks, in many occasions mythical or religious characters were represented, linked to a historicist sense and aesthetics.
The bronze table clocks of the 19th century were key pieces in decoration and interior design, as well as symbols of social status and refinement. Elaborately crafted and often adorned with artistic motifs, these clocks not only served to measure time, but also reflected the technical advances and taste for fine craftsmanship of the time. Bronze, a durable and aesthetically appreciated material, allowed the creation of complex and elegant forms, integrating styles such as neoclassical or rococo, which made them highly valued objects in the residences of high society.