Period: 18th century

A masterpiece by Gille Lainé, this 18th-century Parisian clock depicts Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, flanked by a cherub presenting a shield with a heart, symbol of the power of love. The body of the clock is made of fine white Carrara statuary marble, while the sculptures of the sovereign and the cherub, in mercury-gilded bronze, show a very high craftsmanship, reflecting Lainé's unparalleled mastery and the refinement of the techniques of the time.