Gilded Bronze Empire Clock – Boicervoise Paris Circa 1810

An exceptional French clock from the Empire period, circa 1810, crafted from finely chased and gilded bronze, featuring an elegant and rare shield-shaped design, surmounted by a majestic imperial eagle with outstretched wings. The eagle, one of the principal emblems of Napoleon I’s reign, symbolizes power, authority, and imperial grandeur. On either side of the upper section, two delicately sculpted winged griffins frame the composition and lend it remarkable balance. The body of the clock, shaped like a heraldic shield, is richly adorned with neoclassical motifs, notably a female mascaron, delicate garlands of flowers and foliage, rosettes, and decorative rings suspended from the sides. The piece rests on an elegant, richly decorated pedestal, topped by an oval base supported by four finely crafted legs. The white enamel dial features Roman numerals for the hours, Arabic numerals for the minutes, and delicate gilded, openwork hands. It bears the signature “Boicervoise à Paris”, a Parisian clockmaker listed as active during the Empire. The clock presents a magnificent contrast between matte and glossy gilded surfaces, highlighting the finesse of the chasing and the richness of the decorative details. The imperial eagle, the griffins, and the classical ornamentation perfectly illustrate the artistic vocabulary of the First Empire, inspired by Roman antiquity and the neoclassical ideals of the Napoleonic era. A remarkable and particularly decorative piece of early 19th-century French clockmaking, distinguished by its rare heraldic composition, the quality of its bronze work, and the richness of its imperial iconography.

Dimensions:
Height: 45 cm
Width: 22 cm
Depth: 12 cm

Bibliography: Tardy, Dictionary of French Clockmakers, p. 63.