Desk clock; France, Louis Philippe period, c. 1840.

Desk clock; France, Louis Philippe period, c. 1840.
Mercury gilt bronze and porcelain enamel dial.
It has Paris machinery and silk thread suspension.
Preserves pendulum and key.
Presents losses in the gilding, missing the back and requires restoration of the machinery.
Signed: Honore á Paris.
Measurements: 50 x 29 x 14 cm.
Table clock made of gilded bronze from the early nineteenth century. The piece has been conceived through a sculptural concept characteristic of this time. In the upper area of the base, there is the representation of a young lady placed in front of an altar in which the figure of the Virgin and two saints are represented on the sides. This type of scenes were very common in the decoration of the table clocks, in many occasions mythical or religious characters were represented, linked to a historicist sense and aesthetics.
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.