Offered by Galerie François Léage
France, Louis XVI period
White marble, chased and gilded bronze
White enamelled dial signed "Tavernier à Paris"
This clock rests on six small tops in chiseled and gilded bronze with foliage which support the oval marble base, at different levels, slightly stepped and grooved, near the terrace. This part is adorned with an openwork frieze in gilded bronze decorated with foliage and flowery scrolls, running all around and inscribed between two bands. On the first indentation there is a belt made of two twisted ropes and, higher near the throat, a row of pearls. On a small rectangular counter-plinth with concave angles bordered by another row of smaller pearls, rests an imposing molded ovoid vase, on a pedestal, which is flanked by two graces in chiseled and gilded bronze, each standing and bare, partially covered. by a fabric connected to a part of the body. Their hairstyle is embellished with pearls and flowers. The lower part of the vase is adorned with alternating radiating patterns of candles and flutes. The figures stretch out their arms towards a winged love that is stretched out on simulated clouds at the top of the vase from which emerge on either side two large flower and leafy garlands near a flaming torch among other stylized clouds.
In the center of the vase is the dial signed by "Tavernier à Paris", inscribed in a chiseled bezel indicating the hours in Arabic numerals by two pierced hands in gilded bronze.
The pedestal is embellished with a foliated rais-de-cœur frieze resting on a rectangular plinth with gilded bronze plinth. On the ground, on either side of the marble part, are arranged a bow and a quiver as well as a flaming torch and a wreath of flowers.