Empire clock. France, c. 1810

Empire clock. France, c. 1810
Mercury gilt bronze and patinated bronze. Enameled metal dial
With suspension of the pendulum in silk thread.
Signed on the movement: "P.D.".
Preserves pendulum and key
Presents repainting numbers on the dial and losses in gilding
Measurements: 63 x 43 x 20 cm.

French Empire style table clock. It is made of gilded and patinated bronze, with a sculptural concept typical of this time. It is a piece of classical aesthetics, with a base with allegorical objects in bas-relief as a frieze. Above it rises a figure in round bulk representing an old man with a harp. The protagonist rests on the clock case. The dial has 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.