{"product_id":"george-washington-mantel-clock-1","title":"George Washington Mantel Clock","description":"George Washington Mantel Clock\u003cbr\u003e Movement attributed to Jacques Nicolas Pierre François Dubuc, Paris\u003cbr\u003e Case attributed to Gabriel (or L. Jeune) Rabiat, Paris (active 1810–20)\u003cbr\u003e Circa 1815–1817 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e George Washington stands as the embodiment of American independence in this rare French gilt bronze mantel clock. Its movement is attributed to Jacques Nicolas Pierre François Dubuc and its case to Gabriel (or L. Jeune) Rabiat. The timepiece belongs to a distinguished group created in Paris for the American market circa 1815–1817. These elaborate clocks celebrated the nation’s founding hero at a moment of renewed patriotic feeling following the War of 1812. Related examples are preserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Baltimore Museum of Art. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Washington appears in military uniform, his stance derived from John Trumbull’s celebrated portrait of the general before the Battle of Trenton. He holds a rolled document beside the clock housing, which is crowned by an American eagle bearing a shield, arrows and an olive branch. Beneath the eagle, the engraved motto “E Pluribus Unum,” meaning “Out of many, one,” affirms the unity of the republic. A white enamel dial with black Roman numerals contrasts with the richly ornamented gilt bronze case. Scrolls, palmettes and a central radiating mask decorate the architectural base. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Especially distinctive is the engraved drapery beneath the dial. Its inscription adapts Henry “Light Horse Harry” Lee’s famous tribute to Washington: “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Here, the wording concludes with the unusual phrase “First, in his Countrymen’s, heart.” Engraved rather than cast in relief, the lettering distinguishes this example from many related Washington clocks. Combining French craftsmanship with unmistakably American imagery, the timepiece expresses the enduring reverence for the first president in the early republic. \u003cbr.\u003e 16\" high x 10 1\/2\" wide x 4 1\/2\" deep\u003c\/br.\u003e","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46322754977927,"sku":"32-3305","price":138500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-3305_1.png?v=1793026991","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/george-washington-mantel-clock-1","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}