Clock; France, second third of the 19th century.

Clock; France, second third of the nineteenth century.
Gilded bronze and enameled porcelain.
It has silk thread suspension.
Preserves key.
It shows wear in the gilding and does not retain pendulum.
Signed "De la combe and Delepine Arsene" (machinery).
Measurements: 57 x 41 x 25 cm.
This French gilt bronze clock is characterized by its detailed ornamental work and its mythological references. At the base, the clock rests on legs in the form of acanthus leaves, which give it stability and a classical touch of Greco-Roman inspiration. This plant motif, typical of the French decorative style, evokes robustness and dynamism, as well as providing a refined and natural aesthetic. The main body of the clock features two faun figures on the sides, which act as caryatids. The fauns, with their wild and mythological features, support the structure and recall the connection with the Bacchic world. These characters, half man and half goat, are associated in classical mythology with the god Bacchus (Dionysus in Greek mythology), symbol of feasting, fertility and wine. Their presence on the watch adds an allegorical air.The watch face is in the center, with Roman numerals in a vibrant blue color on a white background, framed by a decorated bronze ring. At the top, the clock is surmounted by a round bulge sculpture depicting a boy next to a goat, a direct reference to the Bacchic theme.
Nineteenth-century bronze table clocks were key pieces of 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 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.