Desk clock; France, Restoration period, c. 1820.

Desk clock; France, restoration period, c. 1820.
Mercury gilt bronze and malachite plates.
It shows wear on the dial and pendulum.
Measurements: 63 x 46,5 x 17 cm.
Table clock made of mercury gilded bronze and malachite plates. The piece is supported on four bronze legs arranged in the corners representing lions' heads. On them the base is arranged as a podium, which stands out for the expressive ornamentation of the grain and the color of the malachite plates. The base is divided into several bodies that are defined by bronze appliques that surround the perimeter. The central zone has a bronze applique in relief that represents a Roman standard on which the name Belisarius can be read, thus indicating who is the personage represented in the upper zone. The piece ends with a round sculpture representing Flavius Belisarius (, 505-565), general of the Eastern Roman Empire, famous for reconquering part of the Western Roman Empire. The figure, which shows a pensive attitude, rests on the box with the dial. In this area the author combines gilded and blued bronze with malachite. The dial stands out for its gilt finish with black Roman numerals and breguet hands, while the blued bronze is used for the round sculpture.
During the Restoration period in France under the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, the decorative arts and especially interior design experienced a boom period. This type of scenes were very common in the decoration of table clocks, often depicting mythical or religious characters.