Empire clock. France, c. 1810

Empire clock. France, c. 1810
Mercury gilt bronze. Hand-painted porcelain dial, enameled.
With pendulum suspension on silk thread.
Preserves pendulum and key
Both the sword and the back cover are from a later period.
It shows wear and tear
Measurements: 46 x 54 x 20 cm.

Clock in gilded bronze of sculptural concession in which the author has given life to the famous painting of Jacques Louis David "The Oath of the Horatii", currently in the Louvre Museum.

Bronze table clocks 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.