Desk clock: Sweden, c. 1800.

Desk clock: Sweden, c. 1800.
Mercury gilded and patinated bronze.
Porcelain enameled dial.
Silk thread suspension.
No pendulum or key and has loss of the arrow.
Signed Gustaf Lindén
Measurements: 39,5 x 28,5 x 11,5 cm.
This clock is a decorative and functional piece of Swedish origin, approximately 1800, designed in a neoclassical style with gilded bronze details. Its distinctive form is reminiscent of a classic oil lamp, with a rectangular base framed in bronze and supported by small spherical feet.
The main body of the clock, in the form of a dark lamp, is ornamented with a female figure at the top, depicted in great detail in a dynamic attitude. The figure, also in gilt bronze, appears to be manipulating the lamp, with one hand extended toward a bowl or vessel, while a striking decorative fire emerges from the lamp's spout.
The clock mechanism is integrated into the body of the lamp, with a white enameled dial, black Arabic numerals and finely crafted hands. The design combines functional elements with mythological and aesthetic symbolism typical of the period, reflecting the influence of the Enlightenment and a fascination with classical themes. It is a work that blends the utility of a watch with the beauty of a sculpture, characteristic of 19th century craftsmanship.