Details
Description
This refined Empire-period clock, dating to around 1810, features a case created by the atelier of André-Antoine Ravrio. Rich in …
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This refined Empire-period clock, dating to around 1810, features a case created by the atelier of André-Antoine Ravrio. Rich in detail and intellectual references, the composition is inspired by the so-called Toilet of Psyche, an iconography closely connected to the myth of Cupid and Psyche, widely revisited in Neoclassical art.
A Clock Inspired by the Myth of Cupid and Psyche
The large surface above the dial presents a carefully staged morning toilette scene, interpreted according to early 19th-century French fashion. A lady in contemporary dress adorns herself before a tall psyche mirror, supported by two slender columns and surmounted by a heart pierced by two arrows, a direct allusion to love and desire.
The surrounding furnishings are rendered in a strict Neoclassical vocabulary. To the right stands a guéridon, topped with a vessel and objects used for morning ablutions; to the left, an athénienne decorated with bucrania, reinforcing the classical setting. The narrative unfolds as a quiet domestic ritual, elevated to allegory through mythological symbolism.
The base of the clock is enriched with gilt-bronze appliqués depicting flying cupids. One cupid, set within a scroll on the left side, bears the initials A.R., identifying Antoine Ravrio as the maker of the bronze case.
The clock rests on a Verde Antico marble base, supported by four gryphon feet—mythical creatures with the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, sacred to Apollo and traditionally regarded as guardians of treasures.
The movement features an anchor escapement with countwheel striking on a bell.
Iconographic Sources
The iconography appears to derive from a Pompeian fresco in the House of Marcus Lucretius Fronto, depicting the Toilet of Venus. This subject also attracted Raphael, notably in the frescoes of the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche at the Villa Farnesina in Rome. Ravrio’s clock translates this classical and Renaissance heritage into a three-dimensional, domestic object suited to the refined interiors of the Empire period.
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- Dimensions
- 13.39ʺW × 5.91ʺD × 20.87ʺH
- Styles
- Empire
- Period
- Early 19th Century
- Country of Origin
- France
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Bronze
- Condition
- Good Condition, Original Condition Unaltered, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Gold
Returns & Cancellations
Return Policy - All sales are final 48 hours after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the description of the product.
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