Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock Depicting the Lydian Queen Omphale

About the Item

An early 19 century French Empire gilt bronze clock depicting the mythological Lydian Queen Omphale sitting astride on a draped drum that contains the clock's dial and the movement. Omphale is shown with the Nemean Lion's fleece at her feet on one side of the dial hodoing holding one end of Hercules' club used to kill the lion, propped against the other side of the dial. The whole is supported on a rectangular gilt bronze base on toupie feet. A frieze on the base of the clock depicts the male female role reversal central to the mythological story with Hercules holding a spindle, and Omphale sitting on the fleece and holding the club Hercules killed the lion with in her hand. The clock has it's original silk string suspension movement ringing the hours and half hours on a bell. As the story goes and wishing to atone for a crime he committed Hercules consulted The Oracle of Apollo for guidance who advised him to enter into slavery at the service of the Omphale Queen of Lydia. What could be more humbling than subjecting the mighty Hercules, the son of Zeus famed for his invincible strength, to submit to tasks that in classical times were considered women's work such as spinning wool. The story does have a happy ending with Hercules eventually freed from slavery and marrying Omphale.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 21 in (53.34 cm)Width: 18 in (45.72 cm)Depth: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)
  • Style:
    Empire (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Bronze,Gilt
  • Place of Origin:
    France
  • Period:
    Early 19th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1815
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Vancouver, CA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU4631215814531

More From This Seller

View All
French Empire Gilt Bronze Allegorical Clock Depicting the Astronomical Sciences
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine early 19th century French Empire gilt bronze clock representing an allegory of astronomy; featuring two classically draped maide...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Gilt Bronze Allegorical Clock Depicting the Astronomical Sciences

French Empire Gilt Bronze Allegorical Clock Depicting the Astronomical Sciences

$7,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Allegorical French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock Depicting Earth’s Source of Water
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A gilt bronze French Empire clock depicting an allegory to the earth’s water source. In this clock a classically draped nymph sits atop a rocky outcrop her right foot resting on the ...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Allegorical French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock Depicting Earth’s Source of Water

Allegorical French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock Depicting Earth’s Source of Water

$5,625 Sale Price
25% Off
French Empire Gilt Bronze Allegorical Clock of the Astronomical Sciences
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a period French Empire mantle clock in finely chased and gilded bronze made in France in the first quarter of the 19thC. One of the Greek muses with a star atop h...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Gilt Bronze Allegorical Clock of the Astronomical Sciences

French Empire Gilt Bronze Allegorical Clock of the Astronomical Sciences

$2,560 Sale Price
20% Off
French Empire Bronze Clock Depicting Urania Greek Muse of Astronomy
By Lesieur
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A magnificent large gilded and patinated bronze period French Empire mantle clock depicting Urania the Greek Muse of Astronomy standing on a stepped rectangular gilded bronze base her left elbow resting on a large gilded globe of the heavens with a central band showing the signs of the zodiac...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Bronze Clock Depicting Urania Greek Muse of Astronomy

French Empire Bronze Clock Depicting Urania Greek Muse of Astronomy

$12,000
French Empire Clock Depicting Apollo God of Music and the Arts
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A gilt bronze and griotte marble French Empire clock depicting Apollo Greek God of Music Art Literature and Sciences. The clock shows a a gilt bronze winged figure of Apollo leaning against a griotte marble altar pedestal decorated with gilt bronze garlands. At the center of the pedestal is the clock’s dial and movement. Sitting on top of the pedestal is a standing harp, a mallet and a scroll. The whole is supported by a griotte marble base with a gilt bronze frieze showing a number of frolicking and dancing cupids playing music, drinking wine waving laurel wreaths, carrying a standard and even crowning a bust of Athena. The base sits on two owl feet...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Griotte Marble, Bronze

French Empire Clock Depicting Apollo God of Music and the Arts

French Empire Clock Depicting Apollo God of Music and the Arts

$5,600 Sale Price
28% Off
French Empire Allegorical Clock Depicting Roman Triumph and Power
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A figural gilt bronze French Empire clock, ‘Allegory to Triumph and Power’. A Roman emperor stands to the right of the central rectangular plinth housing the movement; atop the plint...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Allegorical Clock Depicting Roman Triumph and Power

French Empire Allegorical Clock Depicting Roman Triumph and Power

$6,750

You May Also Like

Empire Gilt-Bronze Clock Depicting Diana the Huntress. French, c 1820
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A fine Empire Period gilt bronze clock depicting Diana the huntress. The dial signed 'Thomas a Paris'. The white enamel dial with Roman numerals and Breguet hands, the case sur...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Gilt-Bronze Clock Depicting Diana the Huntress. French, c 1820

Empire Gilt-Bronze Clock Depicting Diana the Huntress. French, c 1820

$16,264
French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in London, GB
French Empire gilt bronze clock French, early 19th century Measures: Height 38cm, width 27cm, depth 10cm This fine gilt bronze man...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock

French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock

$6,099
French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
French Empire period gilt bronze mantel clock French, early 19th century Measures: Height 50cm, width 36cm, depth 12cm This mantel clock, wrought from gilt bronze during the French Empire period, features a rectangular base, set above four bun feet, the front of the base adorned with a gilt bronze relief panel...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

French Empire Period Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

$10,165
French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock , France 1810
Located in New York, NY
Resting on four very elegant feet the clock features a rectangular base decorated on three sides with classical motifs. The face features a pair of Sphinx flanking a wreath with lau...
Category

Antique 1810s French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock , France 1810

French Empire Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock , France 1810

$12,250
French Empire Figural Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in New York, NY
Winged cupid with flowing robe, clock resting between wings and fabric, raised on bronze ormolu-mounted verde antico plinth. France, first half of the 19th century. Measures: H ...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Enamel

French Empire Figural Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

French Empire Figural Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

$6,000
Empire Period Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Montreal, QC
Empire period gilt bronze figural clock representing Amour & Psyche.
Category

Antique 19th Century French Empire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Period Gilt Bronze Clock

Empire Period Gilt Bronze Clock

$5,800

Recently Viewed

View All

More Ways To Browse

Clock Dial
Queen Of France
French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock
Mantel Lion
Lion Clock
French Lion Clock
Antique Props
Antique Service Bells
Bronze Lion Clock
Lion Mantel Clock
French Clocks With Silk Suspension
Drum Clock Antique Clocks
Hercules Bronze
Apollo Clock
Zeus Ring
Lion Ring Women
Hercules And The Nemean Lion
Hercules Clock
View All Popular Mantel Clocks Searches