Empire style clock. France, c. 1840-1860

Empire style clock. France, c. 1840-1860
Mercury gilt bronze and patinated bronze. Hand-painted porcelain dial, enameled.
With pendulum suspension on silk thread.
Signed "Boursier élève de Lepaute / à Paris".
Preserves pendulum and key
It has slight flaws in the assembly of the bronze.
Measurements: 50 x 32 x 12 cm.

Bronze table clocks were key pieces in decoration and interior design, as well as symbols of social status and refinement. 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, which made them highly valued objects in the residences of high society.