{"product_id":"empire-erato-mantel-clock-by-thomire-cie","title":"Empire Erato Mantel Clock by Thomire \u0026 Cie","description":"Empire Mercury-Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock\u003cbr\u003e Pierre-Philippe Thomire and Louis Moinet\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1810 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This exceptional Empire gilt-bronze French mantel clock, signed on the dial by bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire and watchmaker Louis Moinet, presents an exquisitely detailed figure of Erato. One of the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, Erato is the Muse of lyric and romantic poetry, known as the “lovely” or “desired” one. She is depicted holding her finely mercury-gilded lyre, symbolizing her inspiration for song and verse. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The leading bronzier of the Empire period, Pierre-Philippe Thomire, trained under Pierre Gouthière and established his Paris workshop in 1776. His creations, characterized by meticulous detailing and refined design, define the Neoclassical aesthetic. This exquisite mantel clock, crafted in the 19th century, remains an enduring testament to Thomire's artistic legacy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Louis Moinet, a highly esteemed watchmaker, inventor, scholar and manufacturer of precision instruments, became president of the \u003cem\u003eSociété de Chronométrie\u003c\/em\u003e in Paris. Moinet was well acquainted with the arts and, for this reason, he fully understood the aesthetic importance of each of his clocks. Moinet also achieved fame with his book, \u003cem\u003eNouveau traité général et civil Astronomique et pratique de l'horlogerie\u003c\/em\u003e, published in 1843. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Moinet worked closely with the bronzier Thomire. The two were responsible for making many important clocks, including one for Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806, known as the Napoleon clock, now at the National Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. Moinet and Thomire also collaborated on clocks for the King of Naples, George IV of England and Tsar Alexander of Russia. While in Paris, Thomas Jefferson acquired a clock from Moinet and Thomire, which accompanied the President for two terms in the White House. When James Monroe became president, he also commissioned a clock from the pair in 1817. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Signed “Thomire \u0026amp; Cie” and “Moinet Ainé Hger” on dial \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 25\" high x 15 1\/2\" wide x 8 1\/2\" deep","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44526834155655,"sku":"32-1952","price":34500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-1952_1_ee6286c3-b269-48a6-8135-ab1deede25fa.png?v=1777552893","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/empire-erato-mantel-clock-by-thomire-cie","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}