For two centuries, fireplace clocks have been the standard of style, a wonderful home interior decoration. Calling them fireplace clocks originated in England, but these clocks achieved greater popularity in another European country. They first appeared in France in the mid 18th century. The 19th century became the ‘golden age’ of fireplace clocks. At this time, when the heyday for producing fireplace clocks was observed, masters created real masterpieces. Clocks were made in different styles, often decorated with gilded and bronze sculptural compositions.
In the 19th - 20th centuries, fireplace clocks were very popular in Russia, where there were also masters for their manufacture. This fireplace clock from the first half of the 19th century, is currently on display in the memorial house of M.I. Muravyov-Apostol and was supposedly created by Russian craftsmen.
This round clock face is framed in bead-like decorations with Roman numerals and two black hands. There are two key holes at the bottom. The fireplace clock case is a trapezoid, prefabricated, three-tiered, on four curled legs, covered with bronze paint. The clock case is crowned with a sculptural figure of a seated young man who looks like a prince. He is wearing stockings, short pants, shoes with a long narrow toe without heels, an outfit typical for a royal person of the Renaissance.
The lower edge and the middle part of the clock are decorated with ribbons with a relief floral ornament. The mechanism of the fireplace clock in the Decembrist’s house is faulty. The cover from the case of the movement, which was attached to the clock from the back, was also lost. This clock was purchased for the Yalutorovsk Museum of Local Lore during a scientific trip of the museum staff to the city of St. Petersburg. In 1994, the restoration of the house was completed, where the nobleman, Decembrist Matvey Muravyov-Apostol lived in 1836-1856, and the new Decembrists in Yalutorovsk exhibit was opened in the house. The fireplace clock, along with other 19th century furniture, decorates the interior of the house built in 1795.
In the 19th - 20th centuries, fireplace clocks were very popular in Russia, where there were also masters for their manufacture. This fireplace clock from the first half of the 19th century, is currently on display in the memorial house of M.I. Muravyov-Apostol and was supposedly created by Russian craftsmen.
This round clock face is framed in bead-like decorations with Roman numerals and two black hands. There are two key holes at the bottom. The fireplace clock case is a trapezoid, prefabricated, three-tiered, on four curled legs, covered with bronze paint. The clock case is crowned with a sculptural figure of a seated young man who looks like a prince. He is wearing stockings, short pants, shoes with a long narrow toe without heels, an outfit typical for a royal person of the Renaissance.
The lower edge and the middle part of the clock are decorated with ribbons with a relief floral ornament. The mechanism of the fireplace clock in the Decembrist’s house is faulty. The cover from the case of the movement, which was attached to the clock from the back, was also lost. This clock was purchased for the Yalutorovsk Museum of Local Lore during a scientific trip of the museum staff to the city of St. Petersburg. In 1994, the restoration of the house was completed, where the nobleman, Decembrist Matvey Muravyov-Apostol lived in 1836-1856, and the new Decembrists in Yalutorovsk exhibit was opened in the house. The fireplace clock, along with other 19th century furniture, decorates the interior of the house built in 1795.
