19th Century Empire Pendulum Clock, France

Details

Description

Item: celebratory figured mantel clock with an effigy of louis xiv as roman emperor

period and origin: france, paris.

first … Read more Item: celebratory figured mantel clock with an effigy of louis xiv as roman emperor

period and origin: france, paris.

first empire period.

material and technique: lost-wax cast bronze, finely hand-chased, mercury-gilded with a double finish of burnished polished gold and matte gold. White enamel dial.

dimensions: approximately h. 34 cm x w. 22 cm x d. 10 cm
analytic description

the iconographic subject - louis xiv à la romanine:
the clock belongs to the pendules au grand homme type, very popular in paris between the empire and restoration periods to celebrate the great leaders of french history in a neoclassical style.

the full-length figure is unmistakably louis xiv:

physiognomic portrait: he is not a generic roman, but the mature sun king, recognizable by the famous long, wavy leonine perruque in folio framing his face. He has a thin louis xiv-style mustache.
roman costume: the sovereign is depicted as imperator, with an anatomically shaped cuirass finely engraved with palmettes, a gorgoneion, and plant motifs on the chest, fringed shoulder pads, pteruges at the waist, and an imperial cloak/garment knotted at the shoulder and draped at the back. He wears high roman cothurni tied over the instep and holds the hilt of his gladius in his left hand. His right arm is extended in the act of command with a marshal's baton.

this mythologizing transposition of the sovereign into an ancient hero was the official language of monarchical propaganda during the restoration.

the clock case:
the case is a vertical parallelepiped, resting on a bridge base. It is surmounted by a trophy of arms consisting of a crested hoplite helmet with a high plume and an interlaced laurel wreath, symbols of glory and victory.

the dial is circular, in white enamel, with roman numerals painted in black. It features pear-shaped breguet hands in burnished steel. It has a two-hole winding mechanism.

the rectangular base, with a curved lower front apron, rests on four solid, knurled, and chased spinning-top/inverted vase-shaped feet with a diamond-shaped lattice.

the front decoration is a perfectly legible celebratory program:

in the center, a large interlaced laurel and palm wreath, tied with a flowing ribbon. Inside, within a circular laurel wreath, is the monogram of a double "l" facing and interlaced, crowned—the official monogram of louis xiv.
below the wreath's ribbon hangs the cross of the order of the legion of honor, an order created by napoleon but maintained and reorganized by louis xviii.

fan-shaped, symmetrically flanking the central composition are two roman helmets with crests and cheekpieces, with palmette decorations on the top, symbolizing the king's arms.

condition:
excellent condition, original gilding, mechanism overhauled and in working order. See less