Mantel clock (pendule de cheminée) 1778 - 1788

This mantel clock, or 'pendule de cheminée', was designed by François Joseph Belanger, and is made of marble, gilded bronze, and enameled metal. The combination of materials speaks to the opulence of its era, but also to the division of labor involved in its production. Mining, bronze casting, gilding, enameling – each required specialized knowledge, and would have been undertaken by different workshops. The clock's very existence is a testament to the complex economic system that supported such craftsmanship. Consider, too, the striking contrast between the cool, unyielding marble and the intricate, almost fluid bronze work. The mythical sphinxes and delicate floral motifs suggest a world of fantasy and escape, yet the clock itself is a symbol of time, of schedules, of the relentless march of industrial progress. Looking closely at the clock’s surface, we can begin to imagine the many hands that contributed to its making, reminding us that even the most beautiful objects are often the products of unseen labor.