Desk clock; France, Louis-Philippe, c. 1840

Table clock; France, Louis Philippe, c. 1840
Mercury gilt and patinated bronze.
Machinery signed: "Brocot / Breveté".
With pendulum and key
On wooden base and beacon
It works
Measurements: 70 x 47 x 20 cm. (total); 57 x 39 x 13 x 13 cm. (clock)

French table clock from the Louis Philippe period, made around 1840. The case combines mercury gilt bronze with patinated bronze, offering an elegant contrast that emphasizes the ornamental richness characteristic of the second quarter of the 19th century. The clock rests on a period wooden base, decorated with lemongrass marquetry in a composition typical of the period. For its protection, the whole is under a glass beacon.

The ornamentation of the piece is notable for the sculptural group that dominates the composition; it is possible that the figure represented is Genghis Khan, drawing the bow to shoot an arrow, an exotic motif very much in vogue in nineteenth-century France.

As for the mechanism, it has an escapement system, which allows to contemplate the movement of the escapement through a small window open on the dial, a technical detail that underlines the sophistication of the piece. In addition, the machinery has Brocot suspension, signed behind the bell.

The watch is in running condition.