Louis XVI clock. France, ca. 1790

Louis XVI clock. France, ca. 1790.
Gilded bronze and marble.
The machinery needs to be overhauled. With restorations.
It does not keep the key.
Measurements: 47 x 28 x 11 cm (clock).

The structure of this exquisite "harp type" clock houses in its interior a skeleton dial with enameled Roman numerals. The decorativeness and "savoir faire" of each of the parts (the strings, the dial and the structure of the instrument) reflect the importance of this type of clock in 18th century French interior design, when they were a symbol of social status and refinement. The clock sits on a cylindrical marble base embellished with pearl motifs and foliate reliefs. Special mention should be made of the structure of the instrument, embellished with finely worked acanthus leaves and the head of Medusa in its central upper part. 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.