Empire Bronze Clock Attributed To André Reiche

Elegant early 19th century clock from the Empire-Restoration period circa 1815 attributed to the bronzier Jean-André Reiche. Indeed the model of our subject presents strong similarities with the creations of this bronze maker such as his clock "L'Etude de l'Astronomie" or his "Reader" kept at the Château de Fontainebleau. Beautiful allegorical subject in chiseled and gilded, burnished and amati bronze depicting a young woman draped in Antique style seated in a luxurious gondola armchair decorated with acanthus swan's neck in front of a draped table surrounding the dial. She holds in her left hand a torch that love, located in front of her, invites her to light with the flame of her heart. The oblong base with a central projection is decorated with a bas-relief depicting an astronomy lesson, flanked on the sides by attributes of cupid. The whole thing rests on six spinning top legs. White enamelled annular dial indicating the hours in Roman numerals inscribed in a terminal. Wire mechanism to be revised, missing key and balance wheel. This Empire clock is presented with its original gilding in a beautiful state of conservation. Dimensions: 34 cm high X 30 cm long X 12 cm deep. *The model of our subject shows strong similarity with the creations of the bronzier Jean-André Reiche such as the Reader or the Study of Astronomy, at the beginning of the Empire period, one preserved at the Château de Fontainebleau and reproduced in Pierre Kjellberg, "Encyclopedia of the French clock, éd. l'Amateur, Paris, 1997, p. 398.