Object Description
Antique early 19th century Empire style gilt and patinated bronze mantel clock
French, Early 19th Century
Height 54cm, width 52cm, depth 20cm
Dating to the early 1800s and designed in the grand Empire style, this remarkable mantel clock embodies the neoclassical taste for allegorical storytelling and dramatic ornamentation.
At its centre is a striking sculptural scene inspired by the ancient Roman tale of ‘Caritas Romana’ (Roman Charity), originally recounted by the Latin author Valerius Maximus. A seated young woman, elegantly draped in classical robes, offers her breast in a nurturing gesture, while embracing a reclining, chained figure – interpreted as her father, Cimon, who was condemned to die of starvation. According to the story, she secretly sustains him by breastfeeding, an act of devotion so virtuous it ultimately leads to his pardon.
To the right of this moving scene is a symbolic grouping: a baby alongside a mother bird feeding her two chicks. These elements evoke themes of purity, maternal care, and the cycle of life.
Rising behind the figures is a patinated bronze column with a textured surface resembling masonry. Set within its centre is a barred window, suggestive of a prison cell, through which the pendulum can be seen. Atop the column sits the timepiece itself, with a round white enamel dial framed in finely cast ormolu, offering a refined contrast to the darker bronze below.
The composition rests on a rectangular plinth, edged with acanthus leaf ornamentation and decorated on its front with an intricately symmetrical design in high relief.
Blending fine bronze casting with rich narrative symbolism, this Empire mantel clock is a masterful expression of early 19th century craftsmanship.