A Directoire Chariot Clock Of Eight Day Duration By Jean-Simon Deverberie

A rare and important Directoire gilt bronze chariot clock of eight day duration by Jean-Simon Deverberie, signed on the white enamel chapter ring between 6 o'clock Int et Fait par Deverberie/ Reu Barbet au Marais à Paris, with Arabic numerals and blued steel Breguet hands for the hours and minutes set within the wheel of a chariot which is cast at centre with twelve foliate and fluted spokes set at 5 minute intervals. The movement with anchor escapement, silk thread suspension, striking on the hour and half hour, with outside count wheel.

The magnificent case representing the figure of Apollo seated in his chariot holding upon his knee his lyre with its double serpent border, wearing a laurel leaf crown, Roman sandals and drapery around his loins that billows behind him, his golden chariot ornamented with laurel leaf borders and mounted with a female caryatid herm as well as eagle head on the arm rests and with hanging drapery below, with a lion head at the back of the chariot and at the prow the head of Marsyas mounted either side with a rosette, upon which stands on one foot the figure of the young winged Cupid, holding a caduceus in his right hand and like Apollo, holding reins attached to a pair of horses that pull the chariot onward, each horse with a flowing mane and tail, wearing a lambrequin saddle cloth and yoked by a Vitruvian scroll decorated harness as it rears on its hind legs while setting across the skies, the chariot and horses on a rectangular plinth with a frieze cast with acanthus scrolls issuing fruit and foliage, supported on eight toupie feet

Paris, date circa 1800
Height 60 cm, length 80 cm, depth 25 cm.