Empire mantel clock 'The African nurse'
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This Empire-period mantel clock features a sculptured figural composition in chiseled, gilded, and patinated bronze representing 'The African nurse'. The dial case is sculpted to resemble a bundle of sugar cane bordered by a braided rope and is carried overhead by a dark patinated female figure with enameled eyes.
She wears a gilded feather-patterned headdress, armbands, and loincloth, supporting a sleeping child in a sling hung about her neck. The figure rests upon a stepped oval gilded bronze plinth applied with tied shell and reed ornament and raised on small feet. The white circular dial displays Roman hour numerals and dual winding apertures.
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
- Base
- Oval base with shell and reeds
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Period
- Empire period
- Subject
- The African nurse
- Dial Surround
- Bundle of sugar cane with braided rope
- Material and Finish
- Chiseled, gilded and patinated bronze
Design
- Visible features
- • Circular white dial with Roman numerals, fine outer minute track, and two winding apertures. • Dark patinated bronze female figure supporting the clock drum overhead with both arms raised. • Figure wears gilded armbands, a feather-textured crown, and a gilded feather-like loincloth. • A child rests in a gilded sling draped across the figure's chest. • Oval gilded bronze base mounted with a relief ribbon, shell, and reed motif, resting on small round feet.
- Dial and Base Construction
- The dial is housed within a sculptural element shaped as a bundle of sugar cane, enclosed by a braided rope border. The structural assembly rests upon an oval base decorated with relief ornaments of shells and reeds.
- Composition and Iconography
- This clock is composed of chiseled, gilded, and patinated bronze, featuring a figural representation described as 'The African nurse'. The female figure, noted to have enameled eyes, wears a headdress and loincloth styled to imitate feathers. The figure supports the clock housing overhead. A secondary figure of a sleeping child is positioned in a basket, suspended by a chain around the nurse's neck and draped beneath a blanket.
- Documentation and Provenance
- The source designates the piece to the Empire period and the 19th century. Information regarding the maker, country of origin, technical specifications of the movement, or the mechanical status of the clock is not recorded in the source material.
Identification
- Reference
- 421501
- 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: Movement specifications, maker signatures, and country of manufacture are not stated by the source.
- Research required: Movement condition and rear assembly are not detailed in the supplied text or front image.