Louis XVI style clock. France, third quarter of the 19th century

Louis XVI style clock. France, third quarter of the nineteenth century
Gilded and patinated bronze. Hand-painted porcelain dial, enameled.
With Brocot suspension.
Signed on the dial: "Dubuc Jeune à Paris".
Preserves pendulum and key.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 48 x 31 x 12 cm.

This is a neoclassical style table clock, decorated with a child figure and a dog. The piece is made mainly in gilded bronze, which gives it a shiny and opulent gilt finish. At the top, there is a figure of a child dressed in a tunic, holding what appears to be a small tool or stick in his right hand. Next to him, a dark-colored dog is depicted with a leash around its neck, following the child. The child's expression and posture reflect a dynamic moment, as if they were walking or playing together.The clock itself has a white dial, with Roman numerals in black to mark the hours and decorative hands in gold. The dial is framed in an ornate border, covered by a canopy with pleats and tassels, giving it a theatrical or stage-like feel.
The base of the clock is solid and rectangular, with decorative legs at each corner. It also has floral or garland detailing on the front, further emphasizing the decorative and detailed style characteristic of the neoclassical era.

Bronze table clocks were key pieces in interior decoration and 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 period. 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.