Table clock tournant

Table clock tournant "Temple d'amour" Louis XVI style, 19th century.
Bronze patinated in blue and gold. Painted white porcelain.
It works.
Measurements: 52 x 21 x 21 cm.

The tournant clock in tender is inscribed in a classical temple with the figure of a censer inside. Originally, this type of clock would have a representation of a little love inside, hence the name "Temple d'amour". On the dome of the temple, two superimposed dials, or "cercles tournants", formed by enamel cartridges, indicate respectively the hours in Roman numerals and the minutes in Arabic numerals.

The creation of this exceptional timepiece is inspired by those made during the reign of Louis XVI, when all over Europe there was a renewed interest in the art and architecture of the ancient Greeks and Romans, an interest that was also fueled by the discovery of Pompeii.

In the same way, the history of tournant clocks dates back to the 18th century when the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum were discovered and the fever for the classical world landed in the decorative arts. In the world of clocks, artists decided to adapt these "cercles tournants" to the "old-fashioned" vase-shaped cases. This new fashion was highly appreciated by important collectors and reached its peak during the reign of Louis XVI.