Biedermeier Table Clock, Austria, 1820

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Description

Refined small Biedermeier table clock, characterized by elegant proportions and representative of Central European decorative production from the first half … Read more Refined small Biedermeier table clock, characterized by elegant proportions and representative of Central European decorative production from the first half of the 19th century.

The case, crafted in burl-veneered wood, presents a less common profile compared to more linear examples, thanks to the strongly domed protective glass covering the dial, a refined element that enhances the three-dimensional presence of the clock. The protective glass itself becomes an integral part of the design, contributing significantly to the object’s formal identity.

The clock rests on a stepped rectangular base, also veneered, reflecting the architectural clarity typical of the Biedermeier aesthetic. On either side of the case stand two stylized female figures conceived as carved wooden herms, structurally integrated into the composition and enriched at their bases with ornamental gilt-bronze decorative mounts.

The white enamel dial, defined by its clean and highly legible graphic layout, reflects the pursuit of formal clarity typical of domestic clockmaking of the period. Through the rear opening, part of the internal mechanism is visible, while the figural pendulum, shaped as a small angel in gilt bronze, provides a particularly graceful decorative detail, consistent with the ornamental tradition of Viennese production from the early decades of the 19th century.

During the first half of the 19th century, clocks of this type were intended for refined domestic interiors—desks, small consoles, and secrétaire cabinets—where the quality of veneers, precision of craftsmanship, and balance of proportions were essential elements of Biedermeier taste.

Owing to the distinctive domed case, the presence of carved lateral herm figures, the convex glass, and the figural pendulum, this example represents an attractive piece of early 19th-century Austrian Biedermeier clockmaking, combining compact dimensions, fine craftsmanship, and refined decorative character. See less