Louis XVI style clock. France, c. 1890

Louis XVI style clock. France, c. 1890
Gilt bronze and carved marble. Hand-painted porcelain dial, enameled.
With Brocot suspension
Signed on the dial: "Cronier à Paris", signed on the bronze: "Eugène Bazart / Paris" and signed on the movement: "Étienne Maxant".
Retains key and pendulum.
It has slight flaws in the dial
Measurements: 47 x 35 x 22 cm.

This clock is an ornamental work of great luxury and sophistication, typically representative of the decorative art styles of the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century in Europe. It is made primarily of gilt bronze, a material that confers a majestic appearance and high value.

The base of the clock is white marble, an elegant contrast to the bright gilt of the rest of the piece.
The design presents a symbolic and detailed composition. At the center of the clock is the circular dial, with black Roman numerals to mark the hours. In the center of the dial reads the name "Cronier," along with the mention of "Paris," suggesting that this watch was manufactured or marketed in the French capital, known at the time for being an important center of watchmaking and the decorative arts.
Flanking the dial are two figures in gilt bronze. On the left, a female figure, probably Psyche, wears a classical tunic and is seated in a relaxed but attentive pose. She appears to be holding or interacting with an ornate urn that sits on top of the clock, where the thirty days of the month can be seen in enamel. To the right, a winged cherub or Cupid leans on an object, apparently looking toward the female figure and participating in the symbolic interaction of the scene. Details on the bottom of the clock include a small globe, accompanied by gilt bronze floral decorations, which reinforce the mythological and allegorical atmosphere of the piece. The clock as a whole is a clear example of neoclassical taste, with its emphasis on mythology, classical figures and decorative motifs evoking Greco-Roman antiquity.

The dial is signed in Paris by Antoine Cronier, master watchmaker in 1763, while the bronze shows the signature of Eugène Bazart and the machinery has the signature of Etienne Maxant (active between 1880-1905).