Figural mantel clock - bronze, brass - 1800-1850

An exceptional piece from the golden age of French clockmaking.

This impressive bracket clock, made around 1800 in the transitional period from Louis XVI to the Empire, is an ode to the Enlightenment. In this era the elite looked not to the church but to classical antiquity for wisdom and beauty. Who could embody those ideals better than Homer, the blind poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey?

The description:
On an architectural plinth of finely chased and fire-gilt bronze — the famous bronze doré, or ormolu — sits the bust of the philosopher-poet Homer. His gaze is contemplative, timeless. The fire-gilding has a deep, warm, almost honey-like luster that is achieved only with mercury gilding and that modern gilding can never equal. The patina is beautifully pristine.

Under the bust is the recently refurbished dial with Roman numerals, framed by a finely toothed bronze edge. The hands are of blued steel, a splendid contrast with the gold.

The movement:
The heart of this pendule is the original French movement with wire suspension — the so-called wire-driven clock. This delicate wire system was the signature of the finest Parisian clockmakers and ensures an exceptionally precise and quiet running.

The clock is in good running order, strikes fully and clearly on the bell, and has always received careful and expert maintenance. Not a static showpiece, but a living piece of history that can immediately take pride of place in your interior. Ready for the years to come."