Table clock. France, Empire period, ca. 1800.

Table clock. France, Empire period, ca. 1800.
In mercury gilded bronze.
Patinated bronze sculpture. Mercury gilt bronze border.
White and gray marble base.
Signed on the dial Gaston-Jolly.
Presents faults in the dial.
Without key.
Measurements: 44 x 25 x 16 cm.

This sculptural table clock, a paradigmatic work of the French Empire style, represents the exquisite fusion between the utilitarian arts and the allegorical sculpture of classical inspiration that characterized the Napoleonic aesthetics of the first years of the 19th century. Crafted around 1800, the clock articulates a visual language of Greco-Roman roots through a full-bodied female figure, probably inspired by Minerva. The sculpture, in patinated bronze, is shown seated, with an expression of restrained solemnity. The face, with a harmonious oval, presents a melancholic look, which reinforces the introspective and timeless character of the figure. Two delicate braids descend on both sides of the neck, the frame of a hair gathered in a bun, elegantly treated with fine curls that evoke the hairstyles of the Roman vestals. She wears a diadem on her forehead, decorated with a genie mask flanked by a small star, a traditional symbol of divinity. Her clothing, a classically inspired peplos tunic, subtly clings to the torso, hinting at the shape of the bust, and descends in naturalistic draperies to cover the lower part of the body. The clock face, of circular format with Roman numerals, is harmoniously integrated into the scene as it is held in the lap of the goddess. It is framed by a finely chiseled gilt bronze border, probably with floral or pearl motifs, typical of Empire decorative taste. The sculpture rests on a base of gray veined marble. The feet of the goddess rest on a white marble base.