Important clock called the "Apollo's chariot",... - Lot 231 - Osenat

Lot 231
Go to lot
Estimation :
35000 - 40000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 40 000EUR
Important clock called the "Apollo's chariot",... - Lot 231 - Osenat
Important clock called the "Apollo's chariot", or "Phaeton's chariot" in patinated and finely chiselled gilt bronze, representing Apollo's wild race, with the chariot of the sun richly decorated with garlands of fruit held by ribbon knots, winged griffins, friezes of water leaves, foliage scrolls on an arch decorated with four golden zodiac signs on a patinated background, in the middle of the clouds. The dial is inscribed on one of the two wheels of the chariot, decorated on the periphery with enamel and Roman numerals for the hours. The movement, with anchor escapement and silk thread suspension, strikes the hours and a half on a stamp with an external counting wheel. It rests on a rectangular base with a slight projection, in sea-green marble with a bas-relief depicting the sacrifice of Mithra in the centre and on either side a decoration of stars and crescents of the moon evoking the night, supported by small patinas. Empire period (some enamel accidents) H: 76 - W. 72 - D. 24 cm The theme of this clock is taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses: Phaeton, considered in Greek mythology as the son of Helios, god of the Sun, asks his father to drive his chariot. The latter warns him of the dangers of this race but accepts. The solar quadrige pulled by the four horses (Pyrenees, Eus, Aethon and Phlegon) launches into space. Phaeton, with little experience, is unable to control his team, and he encounters the constellations of the Zodiac, including the scorpion, which terrorizes him. Horses, out of control, cause catastrophes all over the world: cities, mountains, whole regions are burning, glaciers melt, rivers dry up, seas warm up and their levels drop. The Earth, half-calcined, begs Zeus to intervene to save the world. This one, having obtained the agreement of the other gods, struck down Phaethon and destroyed the chariot. This subject is so successful that it is also widely represented at any time we can cite as examples in painting: Guido Reni, Luca Giordano, Rubens, P
My orders
Sale information
Sales conditions
Return to catalogue