Exceptional work of art from the Empire period created by Pierre François and Lucien François Feuchère after the sculpture by Claude Michallon "PSYCHÉ COURONNANT L'AMOUR". The group modeled under the Directory by Claude Michallon (1751-1799) was, from the Consulate operated by Feuchère, which made it one of the most popular models of its time. Pierre Philippe Thomire and Claude Galle have also produced similar models, a trained eye can quite easily tell the difference between these three major signatures. An identical model was also delivered by the Feuchère in 1812 to the Tuileries Palace. Two clocks of this type belong to the Mobilier National, one of which is strictly identical (the bronze terminal instead of the cherry). Examples are also kept in: - the royal collections of England. - in the heritage fund of the former reigning Wittelsbach family in Munich (Wittelsbacher Ausgleichsfonds). - at the Marmottan museum. - the presidency of the National Assembly in Paris. - at the Pavilion of Monplaisir in the park of Perterhof - at the Ministry of the Navy. The Feuchères presented it again during the exhibition of the Products of French Industry in 1819. We can also see on the collection of engravings of the exhibition, an identical clock on the site of the Feuchère. Description: The dial inscribed in a morello cherry red marble terminal with black Roman numerals for the hours and signed by Champion, a master watchmaker renowned for his numerous collaborations with Claude Galle, who worked mainly at 21 rue Neuve des Petits Champs in Paris. This is surrounded by a frieze of superbly chiseled water leaves, the terminal is adorned with a lyre. The base, also in cherry red marble, is enhanced by magnificent winged claw feet, once again beautifully crafted. But the most impressive carving work of the bronze artist remains, in my opinion, the exceptional Crown of Roses. The details captivate all eyes of amateurs, and even the uninitiated. Superb original mercury gilding in extremely rare condition, which completes an authentic work. A bit of mythological history: Psyche was a royal girl of such extraordinary beauty that everyone admired her, neglecting in passing the worship of the goddess of beauty and love, Venus. Angry at this shame, Venus ordered her son Cupid to make her fall in love with an ugly man. But Cupid fell in love with the beautiful Psyche and told her parents, through the oracle Apollo, that they were to dress their daughter for a wedding and take her to the top of a desert mountain where she would be kidnapped and married. , without knowing it, to a demon. Despite the sorrow, the parents dared not resist and accepted this torture. There Psyche was carried away by Zephyr, the gentle west wind, which carried her to a magnificent palace. The following night, Cupid joined her as an unknown bedmate, preventing the beauty from looking at him. Psyche was spending a lot of time with Cupid and wanted to tell her sisters about it, which Cupid allowed. The sisters were quickly so jealous of Psyche's happiness, that they made her believe that her loving lover was certainly the evil demon, predicted by the oracle. Psyche no longer able to control her curiosity (and her fear), grabbed an oil lamp and a dagger during the night, walked towards the bed of the sleeping Love. But when the light lit up, Psyche recognized the God, and between admiration and horror, Psyche dropped a drop of hot oil on Cupid's shoulder and woke him up. Disappointed by this betrayal, he escaped leaving Psyche, alone, desperate. Later, she had to perform many tasks dictated by the gods in order to find forgiveness. After inhaling the scent of a sealed bottle, Psyche fell into a sleep of death; Cupid, consumed with sadness, found his beloved and woke her with a famous kiss. Cupid's father, Ares (Mars), was so sensitive to the purity of love of the most famous of ancient couples, put an end to the "punishment" and allowed his son to marry Psyche. This marriage was celebrated by all the gods, who accepted Psyche in the Olympics. Reference: -Hans Ottomeyer Peter Pröschel, “Vergoldete Bronzen”, 1986, p. 350, pl. 5.7.1, and p. 669, -Jean-Pierre Samoyault, “Pendulums and Furnishing Bronzes Entered Under the First Empire”, 1989, p. 56, pl. 12, Château de Fontainebleau. -Pierre Kjellberg, “Encyclopedia of the French Pendulum from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century”, 1997, p. 402Elke Niehüser, “Die Französische Bronzeuhr”, 1997, p. 210, pl. 270, illustrating a similar model.-Mobilier National: inventory number GML-290-000. Perfect working condition, The movement is complete, original and freshly revised by an excellent Lyon watchmaker.