Napoleon III lyre clock; third quarter of the 19th century.

Napoleon III lyre clock; third quarter of the 19th century.
Gilt bronze, ebonized wood and metal dial.
With Brocot suspension
Signed on the dial: "Toulon à Nantes".
Preserves pendulum and key
Presents some repainting and slight flaws
Measurements: 61 x 28 x 16 cm.

This clock is characterized by the original lyre shape of the case, decorated with gilded bronze vegetal appliques. It sits on a staggered quadrangular base in ebonized wood. The central part is decorated in the center with tubular bronze appliqués conceived as strings of the instrument. The crest is formed by elaborate bronze vegetal appliqués, decorated in the central part with a relief of a winged figure mounted on a chariot. The dial is decorated with a beautiful synthetic vegetal decoration.

Lyre-shaped clocks, popular in the 19th century, were not only functional instruments for measuring time, but also decorative pieces of great artistic value. Inspired by Greek mythology, where the lyre symbolized harmony and beauty, these clocks reflected the neoclassical taste of the time. Their elegant design, with delicate curves and ornamental details, made them central elements in the decoration of aristocratic and bourgeois homes. In addition, they demonstrated the technical and aesthetic advancement of watchmaking, being a symbol of status and cultural refinement.