Clock; France, c. 1800.

Clock; France, c. 1800.
Mercury gilded bronze, enameled porcelain and antico green marble.
It has silk thread suspension.
Preserves key.
Presents faults in the bronze and does not preserve pendulum.
Signed Julien Beliard in Paris.
Measurements: 35,5 x 30 x 12,5 cm.
Table clock with marble base, supported on four legs of gilded bronze. The sharp-edged base gives way to the clock case conceived in a sculptural way in which the enameled dial is completely integrated. Resting on the case is the figure of a young female reader in a round figure, while the right flank is dominated by a fluted half column with a dial resting on it. This type of ornamentation was common in the decorative arts of the time which, due to technical advances, experienced a boom period.
Nineteenth century 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.