Rare Empire clock “venus Seizing The Arc Of Amor”

Very impressive and rare gilt bronze Empire clock in mat and shiny gilt bronze, decorated with a seated Venus playing with her son Amor. In a playful way Venus takes the weapon from her son Amor. This is a quite superb and impressive early 19th century French Empire ormolu gilt bronze and sea green marble mantel clock. Especially it is a visual feast of classical references to love. Firstly we see a semi nude figure of a seated Venus withholding her son’s, Amor, bow. Also the case carries embellishments of erotic statues from antiquity. The chair is a fantastic interpretation of high Empire furnishing. Everything is clean, bright and breathtaking.

The geometric base with rounded ends contains the movement. This movement has a white enameled dial with black Roman numerals for the hours. Further, the base is decorated with applied motifs, such as branches, naked women and trophies of Love. Finally, in the middle we see a frieze of palm leaves and of florets on a grained background. Everything is set on a sea green marble base, resting on six gilt bronze feet.


DETAILS
The eight-days going movement has a wire suspension pendulum. It strikes the hour and half hour on a bell. The clock is in a excellent and perfect working condition. Also, it has recently been cleaned and serviced by a professional clock maker. The clock comes complete with its pendulum, key and bell.


LITERATURE
- Encyclopédie de la pendule française, Pierre Kjellberg, p.392 #C
- French Bronze Clocks, Elke Niehüser, p.98 #157