Description
CLOCK " LA PYRAMIDE " France, 19th century Bronze, partially gilded; red griotte marble; brass and glass H. 72 cm, W. 43.5 cm, D. 12.5 cm Our clock is almost identical to the one that belonged to Napoleon I and is now installed in the Cabinet du Maire, in the Ajaccio town hall (fig. 1). This model is the work of the bronzier Ledure and the clockmaker Claude Hémon, active in Paris between 1812 and 1820. The pyramid, topped by a figure of the Renommée, rests on four lions lying on a marble terrace supported by four flattened ball feet. The main face, sculpted in bas-relief, is decorated with candelabra motifs with two cupids at the base, holding their bows in one hand and a perfume burner containing the potion with which they will moisten the tip of their arrow in the other. Below the dial are the figures of Psyche and Eros leaning on either side of a trophy of arms. A quiver intertwined with a bow and arrow in saltire, all suspended by a knotted ribbon, adorns the spandrels. On the model of Claude Hémon and Ledure, smaller than ours, the decoration in bas-relief, the base of the pyramid and the feet are gilded. Here, the Renommée rises on a gilded bronze globe.
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CLOCK " LA PYRAMIDE " France, 19th century Bronze, partially gilded; red griotte marble; brass and glass H. 72 cm, W. 43.5 cm, D. 12.5 cm Our clock is almost identical to the one that belonged to Napoleon I and is now installed in the Cabinet du Maire, in the Ajaccio town hall (fig. 1). This model is the work of the bronzier Ledure and the clockmaker Claude Hémon, active in Paris between 1812 and 1820. The pyramid, topped by a figure of the Renommée, rests on four lions lying on a marble terrace supported by four flattened ball feet. The main face, sculpted in bas-relief, is decorated with candelabra motifs with two cupids at the base, holding their bows in one hand and a perfume burner containing the potion with which they will moisten the tip of their arrow in the other. Below the dial are the figures of Psyche and Eros leaning on either side of a trophy of arms. A quiver intertwined with a bow and arrow in saltire, all suspended by a knotted ribbon, adorns the spandrels. On the model of Claude Hémon and Ledure, smaller than ours, the decoration in bas-relief, the base of the pyramid and the feet are gilded. Here, the Renommée rises on a gilded bronze globe.
