AN AUSTRIAN NEOCLASSIC GILTWOOD MANTEL CLOCK

Details

AN AUSTRIAN NEOCLASSIC GILTWOOD MANTEL CLOCK
SECOND QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

With arched foliate-carved cresting above two figures, one in classical military garb, the other in nineteenth century uniform, the convex white enamel dial with arabic chapters and pierced gilt hands, concentric calendar ring (now lacking hand), strike/silent movement above the triple-gong barrel movement with anchor escapement and silk-suspended pendulum, quarter strike on two blued gongs in the plain backplate, the dial flanked by urns and crockets on toupie feet-26in. (66cm.) high, 15in. (38cm.) wide, 5.34in. (14.5cm.) deep

Lot Essay

This Viennese clock, with its triumphal arch enclosing two soldiers, one in classical and one in contemporary dress, may commemorate the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) which followed the end of the Napoleonic wars. The Austrian diplomat, Prince Clemens Wenzel Lothar von Metternich-Winneburg (1773-1859), was instrumental in the deliberations which were advantageous to Austria's political growth, and the two figures depicted are possibly that of Metternich with an allegory of the unarmed Mars.