Empire Erato Mantel Clock by Thomire & Cie
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1810
This mantel clock is an Empire-period timepiece constructed from gilt bronze, mercury-gilded bronze, and marble. The design features a figural sculpture of Erato, the Muse of lyric and romantic poetry, positioned beside a rectangular plinth that supports the clock movement.
The clock dial is inscribed with the signatures of the bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire and the watchmaker Louis Moinet. The base is constructed of red marble ornamented with gilt-bronze foliage and a central medallion. Measuring 25 inches in height, 15 1/2 inches in width, and 8 1/2 inches in depth, the object reflects the collaborative output of Thomire and Moinet, who operated in Paris. The figure is shown holding a mercury-gilded lyre.
Moinet, a noted horologist and author, was associated with the Société de Chronométrie, while Thomire was recognized for his work in the Neoclassical aesthetic.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- Circa 1810
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Maker
- Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Louis Moinet
- Subject
- Erato
- Materials
- Mercury-gilt bronze, bronze, marble
- Signature
- Thomire & Cie and Moinet Ainé Hger
- Dimensions
- 25" high x 15 1/2" wide x 8 1/2" deep
- Place recorded
- France
- Maker / attribution
- Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Louis Moinet
Design
- Visible features
- • The clock dial features Roman numeral hour markers. • The sculpture of Erato stands upon a marble base with gilt-bronze mounts. • A portrait medallion is centered on the front of the gilt-bronze plinth. • The clock hands are dark-toned, contrasting with the white dial.
- Historical Context
- The piece is attributed to the French Empire period, specifically around 1810. The bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire, who trained under Pierre Gouthière, established his Paris workshop in 1776. His work is identified by the source as conforming to the Neoclassical aesthetic. The collaboration between Thomire and Moinet is documented as producing various high-status commissions for contemporary leaders, including Napoleon Bonaparte and various European royalty. The source notes that Louis Moinet was a scholar of horology, having authored a book on the subject in 1843.
- Design and Iconography
- The clock displays a central figural sculpture representing Erato, identified in Greek mythology as the Muse of lyric and romantic poetry. The figure is positioned beside a vertical rectangular plinth that houses the dial and movement. She is depicted holding a lyre, which is rendered in mercury-gilt bronze, providing a tonal contrast to the dark-toned sculpture. The supporting plinth is decorated with a relief-molded portrait medallion at its center. The entire assembly rests on a rectangular marble base. This base features further ornamentation in the form of gilt-bronze mounts, which include acanthus leaves and a central motif featuring a profile head.
- Horological Components
- The timekeeping mechanism is housed within a circular container integrated into the side of the plinth. The white dial is marked with Roman numerals for the hours. The signatures on the dial, "Thomire & Cie" and "Moinet Ainé Hger," identify the collaboration between the bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire and the watchmaker Louis Moinet. Moinet was an established manufacturer of precision instruments and a member of the Société de Chronométrie in Paris.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The source mentions historical associations with figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and Thomas Jefferson, but does not state that this specific clock belonged to them.
- Research required: The date of circa 1810 is an attribution provided by the source.