Napoleon III Garrison, c. 1880.

Napoleon III harness, c. 1880.
Gilded bronze.
It has Paris machinery.
Retains key and bell, but no key.
It needs repair of the machinery.
Measurements: 79 x 44 x 23 cm; 78 x 33 cm.
This Napoleon III harness, made around 1880 in gilded bronze, embodies the decorative splendor of the Second French Empire. Composed of a central clock accompanied by two seven-light candelabra, the piece combines elegance, symmetry and ornamental refinement. The clock, of majestic presence, rises with an architectural structure inspired by classicism, decorated with columns, garlands, scrolls and finely chiseled floral motifs. The dial, enameled in white with Roman numerals, is framed by a richly worked bezel, and is crowned with an allegorical figure or a sculptural ornament that adds height and nobility to the whole. On each side, the candelabra display their seven curved arms, with vegetal forms and simulated drip ends, evoking the dynamism of the rococo and the eclectic taste of the period. The richness of the gilded bronze, worked with precision craftsmanship, brings a warm glow that reinforces the sense of luxury and sophistication. Not only did this trimming serve a practical function, but it was also a status symbol and a sign of the taste for decorative historicism that characterized French art at the end of the 19th century.