French Mantelclock

Mantelclock , called ‘borne’, signed Lepaute à Paris, ca 1795.

Heigth: 33 cm

The brass bronzed case has gilded rings and ornaments.

The enameled dial has asymetric winding holes.

The movement , with striking train, strikes every hour on a little bell.

Ourobouros, the tale-biting serpent, symbolises the infiniti, the cycle of light and the continuity of life.

The double head refers to the old Roman god Janus, who is traditionnally represented with two faces. In mythology, he is master of time and infinity and has masculine as well as feminine facial features.