Empire clock. France, c. 1815

Empire clock. France, c. 1815
Mercury gilt bronze, "rouge griotte" marble and white marble.
With pendulum suspension on silk thread.
Signed on the dial: "Hémon / à Paris"; signed on the movement: "Hémon à Paris" (Claude Hémon: act. 1770-1820).
Preserves pendulum and key
White marble, possibly from a later period.
Presents a pitting in the marble and wear and tear.
Measurements: 65 x 44,5 x 18 cm.

French table clock of Empire style and period. It is made of gilded bronze, with a sculptural concept typical of this time. It is a piece of classical aesthetics, with marble base decorated with allegorical objects in bas-relief as a frieze. On it rises a figure in round bulk representing a young man with a harp and a bundle in one of his hands, so that it is the representation of Apollo. The protagonist rests on the clock case. The dial features Roman numerals in black with Breguet hands. The dial is framed by a garland.

The bronze table clocks of the 19th century 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.