Industrial clock with double steam engine automaton; France, late 19th century.

Industrial clock with double steam engine automaton; France, late 19th century.
Brass and griotte marble base.
Overhauled and restored.
Measurements: 48 x 35,5 x 18,5 cm.
This clock belongs to a unique French production that emerged in the last quarter of the 19th century, known today as "industrial clocks". Inspired by the Industrial Revolution and the era of shipping and technological innovations, these clocks are notable for their mechanical and aesthetic design, often incorporating scientific elements such as a barometer, and featuring marble bases, typically with flat brass legs.
The present model is a splendid example of this typology, where the case simulates a steam engine with two boilers housing both the clock movement and the meteorological instruments. It has a regulator with balance wheel and piston, supported by columns, rises in the center of the whole. This mechanism, driven by a separate system located at the base, sets a large flywheel in motion, creating a mechanical spectacle designed to amaze and entertain for over two hours.
The eight-day movement is driven by a spring-barrel and regulated by a lever escapement with compensated balance. The aneroid barometer measures atmospheric pressure, confirming the scientific and utilitarian character of this watch.
The clock rests on a red marble "griotte" base, supported on flat gilt brass legs.
This industrial clock with automaton represents a unique convergence of art, science, and technology, being not only a time-keeping device but also a fascinating animated machine that reflects the era of innovation and the splendor of the Industrial Revolution.