Live Auction 7608Important European Furniture and Sculpture
AN EMPIRE ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE MANTEL CLOCK
Lot 19 THE PROPERTY OF A LADY OF TITLE

AN EMPIRE ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE MANTEL CLOCK

EARLY 19TH CENTURY

Closed10 July 2008

Price Realised

GBP 15,000

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AN EMPIRE ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE MANTEL CLOCK
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
Modelled as a bust of Minerva, the circular dial with white-enamelled circlet with Roman chapters and engine-turned ormolu centre signed 'THOMAS A PARIS', set within the scrolling foliage-decorated helmet, the body armour decorated with a mask of Medusa, on a rectangular plinth and turned feet, with steel Breguet hands (lacking minute), the twin barrel movement with silk suspension and countwheel strike on bell
15¼ in. (39 cm.) high; 7 in. (18 cm.) wide; 5 in. (13 cm.) deep

Specialist note

This clock is modelled as Minerva and features the attributes of the war goddess. Among such elements, the plumed helmet and the aegis or skin breastplate centred by the mask of Medusa, the serpent-haired creature whose head was presented to Minera by Perseus after he slained the monster.
Such martial or warrior-inspired models are recurrent in the Empire period and further examples featuring the Goddess of War include a clock in the château de Malmaison (ill. B. Chevallier et al., Napoléon, exh. cat., Memphis, 1993, cat. 56. p. 71).