Desk clock; France, Restoration period, c. 1815.

Desk clock; France, Restoration period, c. 1815.
Mercury gilt bronze, patinated bronze and malachite plates.
Signed on the dial: "RAVRIO BRONZIER / À PARIS".
Silk thread suspension.
It shows wear on the dial, pendulum and some cracks in the lining.
Measurements: 63 x 46,5 x 17 cm.

Table clock made of mercury gilded bronze and malachite plates. The piece is supported on four bronze legs arranged in the corners that represent lions' heads. On them the base is arranged as a podium, which stands out for the expressive ornamentation of the grain and the color of the malachite plates. The base is divided into several bodies that are defined by bronze appliques that surround the perimeter. The central zone has a bronze applique in relief that represents a Roman standard on which the name Belisarius can be read, thus indicating who is the personage represented in the upper zone. The piece ends with a round sculpture representing Flavius Belisarius (505-565), general of the Eastern Roman Empire, famous for reconquering part of the Western Roman Empire. The figure, which shows a pensive attitude, rests on the case with the dial. In this area the author combines gilded and blued bronze with malachite. The dial stands out for its golden finish with black Roman numerals and breguet hands, while the blued bronze is used to make the round sculpture. The dial reads: "RAVRIO BRONZIER / À PARIS". André-Antoine Ravrio (1759 - 1814) is one of the most important Parisian bronze artists of the second half of the 18th century and the beginning of the Empire. A bronze artist for the imperial "Garde-meuble", Ravrio participated in the furnishing of Napoleon's houses, as did Thomire and Galle; he worked for some of the most influential political figures of his time, such as the marshals of the Empire. Some of his pieces are now in French national collections.

During the Restoration period in France, the decorative arts and especially interior design experienced a boom period. This type of scenes were very common in the decoration of table clocks, often depicting mythical or religious characters.