A GILT AND PATINA BRONZE CLOCK WITH A SUBJECT: A RIVER GOD, THE TIBER.

A finely chased, gilt and patinated bronze clock depicting a seated river god, leaning on a vase from which the river flows. He wears a crown of reeds, holds an oar, and his body is revealed by an antique-style drapery that flows downwards. The base, supported by four dolphin-shaped feet, is adorned with all the symbolism associated with the river god, in this case the Tiber, as well as attributes of the Roman army such as a helmet and the inscription SPQR. This abbreviation, corresponding to the motto "Senatus Populus Que Romanus" (meaning "The Senate and the Roman People"), was the emblem of the Roman Republic, and later, by tradition, of the Roman Empire. More than any other symbol, these four letters represented Roman political power. Furthermore, at the center of these symbols, the depiction of the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, reinforces the inextricable link between politics and religion under the Roman Empire. Roman numeral dial on a guilloché background. Original working winding mechanism. Restoration period, circa 1820. Dimensions: W: 35cm, D: 15cm, H: 50cm.