Gilded bronze and patinated bronze "L'Afrique" clock depicti - Lot 398

Gilded bronze and patinated bronze "L'Afrique" clock depicting a seated allegorical female figure from Africa with enameled eyes. She wears a headband, is richly adorned with jewels, dressed in a feathered loincloth, carries a quiver of arrows on her back and holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. To her right sits a lioness wearing a collar. At her feet is a turtle. She sits on the enameled dial with Arabic numerals for the hours and minutes, signed Gabriel Mayer in Chalon. The whole rests on an oval base decorated with friezes of pearls, playing putti and garlands of foliage and fruit. Gold-plated toupie legs. After a model by Jean-Simon Deverberie. H. 45 cm; L. 38.5 cm; W. 14 cm Directoire period. Quiver strap partially detached, dial enamel restoration, patina wear, slightly twisted feet.