CA0814 Fine French Empire Wedding Blessing Clock

Fine French Empire gilt bronze ormolu mantel clock, surmounted by the goddess Hera blessing a bride before her wedding. Hera was the goddess of women, marriage, family and childbirth in ancient Greek religion, she was both the patron and protector of married women, presiding over weddings and blessing marital unions. A rare, possibly unique, model. The young maiden adorned in her traditional wedding veil kneels before the goddess. Hera sits on a beautiful empire style stool in front of two classical columns that hold up the arch that houses the eight day silk suspension movement. Finely cast and chased ormolu mounts and relief panel to the front depicting a wedding attended by the god Hymen, the Greek god of marriage ceremonies. Hymen was supposed to attend every wedding, if he did not then the wedding would prove disastrous. He presided over many of the weddings in Greek mythology. Rare clock. France, circa 1810. 

H 48cm x W 32cm x D 17cm