Louis XVI table clock; France, late 18th century.

Louis XVI table clock; France, late eighteenth century.
Gilded bronze, Rouge Griotte marble and enameled porcelain.
It has silk thread suspension.
Preserves pendulum and key.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 39 x 35 x 9 cm.
French table clock that is arranged on a marble base "rouge griotte", whose front is advanced and adorned with bronze applique in which highlights the central tondo starring a male bust. On this base rises the clock, whose case seems to rest on a fluted pedestal adorned with a garland. In the upper area two doves complete the sculptural group of the piece formed by a small Cupid that seems to hold a flute, now lost, and at the other end, a young woman holding the Cupid's bow on her knee as if trying to finish him off.
The bronze table clocks of the 18th 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.