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Clock Mythologique "Apollo and the Serpent" Watchmaker: PONS
| Materials: | Bronze mercury gilt, bronze patinated, bronze silver |
|---|---|
| Era: | Restauration 1815-1830 |
| Period: | XIXe siècle |
| Provenance: | French |
- Restored to original condition with original appearance.
- Full overhaul of watch movement, perfect working order.
- Perfect authenticity, without modification.
- Original gilding.
- Winding key & pendulum
- Operating instructions, how to start your clock.
- Certificate of authenticity, invoice.
- Ringtone on ancient bell, hour and a half-hour
Height: 49 cm
Width: 34 cm
Depth: 14 cm
Description
This remarkable clock is distinguished by its sculptural composition of rare expressive power. Seated nobly on a rocky base, Apollo, god of the arts and light, is depicted in a serene and inspired pose, delicately holding his lyre. His body, rendered with great anatomical finesse, unfolds in an elegant posture, both relaxed and majestic. The face, with its idealized features, expresses a calm spiritual elevation, while the gaze seems directed towards a higher harmony. The sculpture here constitutes the very essence of the clock: it commands attention with a sovereign presence, without requiring superfluous ornamentation. The treatment of the mercury-gilded bronze reveals an exceptional quality of execution, particularly in the modeling of the flesh, the fluidity of the drapery, and the precision of the details. The laurel wreath, deeply chiseled and in strong relief, magnifies the god's head, underscoring his victory and his genius.
The circular dial, made of silvered bronze, sits harmoniously within a naturalistic mound of patinated dark green bronze. It is bordered by a serpent biting its tail—the ouroboros—an ancient symbol of eternity and the infinite cycle of time, reinforcing the philosophical dimension of the object.
The architecturally designed base, of great elegance, contributes fully to the balance and decorative richness of the whole. Crafted from finely chased and gilded bronze, its front features a remarkably detailed trophy of attributes—a lyre, quiver, arrows, and foliage—evoking the arts and victories of Apollo. At the heart of this composition, the serpent coiled around the lyre forms a particularly significant central motif: it directly echoes the Python vanquished by the god, here subdued and integrated into a harmonious iconography. This symbolic treatment illustrates the triumph of order, music, and light over chaotic forces. In the lower section, a continuous frieze decorated with palmettes and stylized motifs unfolds with regularity, emphasizing the horizontality of the base and creating a refined, rhythmic ornamentation. The whole rests on delicately crafted feet, giving the clock a stable and majestic presence, while reinforcing its precious character and exceptional quality of execution.
From a mythological perspective, the piece references the episode in which Apollo slays Python, the monstrous serpent guarding the oracle of Delphi. This victory marks the god's rise as master of light, music, and prophecy. The presence of the serpent, both in the ornamentation of the base and in the frame of the dial, subtly recalls this foundational triumph, while the lyre held by Apollo embodies universal harmony, in contrast to the primal chaos symbolized by Python.
This clock is a prized piece for any art lover or discerning collector. With its iconic subject, exquisite mercury gilding, and exceptionally fine carving, this clock does more than simply tell time; it offers a symbolic and timeless interpretation, where art, mythology, and fine watchmaking unite in a work of great nobility.
The original mechanism is intact and unaltered, with a wire suspension. It strikes the hours and half-hours on an antique bell, producing a clear and authentic sound. The movement plate is stamped "PONS," a watchmaker listed in Tardy's dictionary of French watchmakers.
Questions
Easily pay for your purchases using our highly protected bank card system with SSL certificate and 256 bit encryption, ensuring confidentiality when any information is transferred. On a web browser, the OVH SSL certificate activates the HTTPS protocol and displays a padlock in the navigation bar. This shows that any transaction is encrypted and confidential, and that your website address has been authenticated.
Our items mainly stem from the inheritance of objects, preciously looked after over numerous generations. There is a stringent selection process for each object ensuring perfect authenticity and the optimal amount of gilding
We do not use the term “Restoration”, which implies a significant transformation or major repair that modifies an object’s authenticity or original appearance. Each object is completely dismantled, then thoroughly cleaned part by part; our cleaning technique restores shine without adversely affecting the gold. We then put the clock back together, returning all the various parts to their origin location, as well as all the nuts and screws. Subsequently, the item is inspected to ensure it is perfectly even, symmetrical, and smooth, etc.
The clock’s movement undergoes a complete overhaul; it is totally dismantled, cleaned and each individual part is polished. The duration of this procedure affects the shine: we prefer to obtain a brilliant shine, in keeping with the gilding of the object. To increase the strength and quality of the gears, we apply a very important procedure, known as bouchonnage, to correct for wear accumulated over years of operation, consisting in the placing cork of stoppers in any pivot holes that have become deformed by wear. After the clock has been completely reassembled, it is tested over a long period of time to ensure that the movement, as well as the hour and half-hour strikes, are operating correctly.
- Akzeptierte Kreditkarten: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover und Diners Club.
- Bank transfer: You can also send us a copy of the bank transfer order to speed up the processing of your order.
Upon dispatch of your order, you will be sent a parcel tracking number by email.
Delivery anywhere in the world.
France: - Clocks: 3 days preparation work + 2 days for delivery - Total: 5 business days - Decorative objects: 1 days preparation work + 2 days for delivery - Total: 3 business days
Europe - Clocks: 3 days preparation work + 3 days for delivery - Total: 6 business days - Decorative objects: 1 day preparation work + 3 days for delivery - Total: 6 business days
Other countries - Clocks: 3 days preparation work + 3-8 days for delivery - Decorative objects: 1 days preparation work + 3-8 days for delivery
Easily pay for your purchases using our highly protected bank card system with SSL certificate and 256 bit encryption, ensuring confidentiality when any information is transferred. On a web browser, the OVH SSL certificate activates the HTTPS protocol and displays a padlock in the navigation bar. This shows that any transaction is encrypted and confidential, and that your website address has been authenticated.
You will receive—by email and a paper version—an explanatory document containing all the necessary instructions and recommendations for operating your clock. We also provide assistance over the phone to guide you through the start-up procedure. Of course, we will continue to be available—by both telephone and email—to answer any questions you may have. For calls in German or English, please make an appointment first via email, providing us with your telephone number, and the date and time you wish to contact us. Contact.
- Click on the button “add to basket” to add an object. - Once you have finished your order, click on “view contents of basket” located at the bottom of the screen or on small the “shopping trolley” icon at the top right. - click “Complete my order” or “order” - Fill in the invoicing address details, you also have the possibility to send the parcel to a different address. - Select the payment method - To confirm your order, click “order now”
By email, you will be sent: - confirmation of your order & payment - Parcel tracking information
Every purchase comes with a certificate of authenticity and an invoice
High quality certificate of authenticity printed on photo paper with text and photos providing all the information concerning your object. Detailed invoice indicating the price paid for the object.
