French Empire Pendule Mantel Clock, 1810s

Details

Description

Pendulum - mercury messenger of the gods

france
gilt bronze
empire around 1815

dimensions: h x w x d: 37 … Read more Pendulum - mercury messenger of the gods

france
gilt bronze
empire around 1815

dimensions: h x w x d: 37 x 30 x 10 cm

description:
french empire pendule showing the messenger god mercury.

standing on four round, finely chiseled feet pm.
in the base-relief we see winged putti in the harbor, busy a ship with colonial goods such as tobacco and rum to load. Left and right of the relief, on the slightly sloped sides are an applied scale and measuring and writing instrument.

the main focus is the representation of mercury, leaning on a bale of tobacco (probably filled with gold coins) up stretched out a little bag. Mercury was the roman religion as a messenger of the gods and the god of merchants. Both the base relief as well as the presentation of sculptural bronze stand allegorically for trade in goods from overseas.
on the other side of the bale of tobacco, we see paddles, anchors and rumfaß as an allegory of seafaring.

taken in the tobacco parcel is the french pendulenwerk with strike on bell at half and full hour. Time typical are the thread suspension of the pendulum and the lock-plate percussion. Eight-day movement.
enamel dial with roman numerals and arabic quarters of an hour. Signed: riquier à amiens.

in the design of this watch is different from the famous pendulum clock showing the matelo only in the main character.

condition: completely cleaned clockwork runs absolutely smoothly and reliably. Bronze cleaned and partly re-gilded.

similar watches can be found in the literature:
elke niehüser - the french bronze clock this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less