Object Description
Antique French Empire patinated and gilt bronze mantel clock
French, early 19th Century
Height 55cm, width 43cm, depth 13cm
This fine Empire period mantel clock is wrought from patinated and gilt bronze. The clock features a large gilt bronze sculptural surmount of Bacchus, the Roman god of agriculture, fertility, and—most importantly—wine. Bacchus is seated on the clock drum, his right hand holding a lyre and his left a staff draped with bunches of grapes. The silvered dial below is set into a gilt bronze drum moulded with further leafy vines laden with bunches of grapes. The patinated bronze base below is centred with a gilt bronze bas relief panel depicting a Bacchanalia, while the remainder of the base is set with finely cast and pierced classicising gilt bronze mounts. The clock is raised on gilt bronze toupie feet.