Table clock. France, mid-19th century

Table clock. France, mid-19th century.
Chiseled, patinated and gilded bronze signed.
Dial and movement signed Denière in Paris. Numbered movement.
Measurements: 60 x 51 x 22 cm.

Table clock with the figure of Cupid carrying the tables of the law placed on the base of a fluted column where the dial is inscribed. The winged figure of Cupid is conceived as a small boy with graceful flesh and curly hair. The sculptural ensemble rests on an oval base embellished with reliefs.

An important French bronze artist, Jean François created the Maison Denière, to which his son Guillaume was later added. His works appeared at the 1855 Paris World's Fair. Jean François created many watches together with Jean François Théodore Gechter (1796-1844). All of his watches were awarded for their precision and high quality. Denière received many royal commissions, among them the one for the Tuileries Garden in 1852 and 1854 and the bronze group "Apollon and his muses" on the top of the Opera Garnier in Paris.