Empire clock. France, ca. 1800.

Empire clock; France, ca. 1800.
Baccarat crystal and gilded bronze.
Measurements: 43 cm.

Table clock made of Baccarat crystal and bronze. The piece follows the popular model of amphora with square base with ornamental frieze on four ball feet pressed and chiseled with descending lines. The body is made of transparent baccarat glass and carved with bronze handles that take the form of a winged young woman. The base has a beveled shaft, baluster-shaped body with descending shoulder and biconical neck. The dial is decorated on the outer perimeter. This type of clocks were very common in the I Empire and, being inspired by them, in the II French Empire. In both cases, the influence of classical decorative elements is clear, both in the reliefs and in the human figures on the pedestals, always with marked straight lines.
Nineteenth century 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.