Empire clock; France, 1810.

Empire clock; France, 1810.
Gilded bronze.
Measurements: 35 x 35 x 12 cm.
Empire clock made of gilded bronze that sits on a large base of straight and angular lines characteristic of the period and style. This volumetric base sits on four legs. In the central area an applique adorns the base with a large garland supported by angels at the ends and with a large lyre in the center. In the upper zone a lady seated on a cart directs two dogs in an active attitude. The wheel of the chariot serves the sculptural work to house the clock face with Roman numerals in black on gold.
Nineteenth-century bronze table clocks were key pieces in interior decoration and 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.