MANTLE CLOCK, MERCURY OR HERMES. BRONZE. PARIS, FRANCE, 19TH CENTURY.

Table clock, Mercury/Hermes. Bronze, metal. Paris, France, circa 1825. In working condition. Movement with engraving (signature). Table clock with bronze case, combining gilt finish (base, caduceus, rooster) and dark blued finish. The pedestal has four legs (claw-finished and decorated with classicist elements) on which a smooth rectangular area is located, which gives way to a smaller one with a garland of architectural palmettes in slight relief; This second area presents a decoration in relief resembling a panoply (lyre with tortoise shell, bows, ivy, cane, etc.). Above is the male figure in blued bronze, sitting sideways on a trunk in which is the dial (metal, Roman numerals for the hours) framed with a snake; To the side appears a rooster in a gold finish. This half-naked young man is Hermes or Mercury, a deity from classical mythology related to commerce, communication, etc., and often known for carrying a caduceus (in his hand, in gilded bronze) and wings on a helmet or hat with a certain shape (note also present on a foot). The rooster was one of the animals that often accompanied Mercury. Several cases are known that are very similar to that of the present watch: two by Louis-Sanislas Lenoir-Ravrio (one with the blued figure and marble base in the Musée de l\\'Horlogerie in Geneva; another with the gilt bronze figure, in the Royal Pavillion in Brighton - England -), one dated around 1825 and attributed to this same master (blued figure but the tree trunk of the sphere and other details in gilt bronze; pedestal in composition similar to the present one) in a private collection; another without attribution in the “bureau du directeur” (General inventory of the cultural heritage of the Town of Lyon, France) dated with certain doubts to the third quarter of the 19th century, which is very similar to this one. The Paris mechanism of the watch features two joined initials engraved on one side and a name in capital letters above the text “to Paris” on the other, alluding to the watchmaker responsible for it. Similar model sold at Sothebys auction 07/06/2011 lot 96. Weight: 21kg.

· Size: 43x16x62 cms.