Mantel clock (pendule à console) 1745 - 1755

Jean-Philippe Gosselin, a clockmaker active in Paris, crafted this gilded mantel clock, or pendule à console. These clocks, beyond their practical function, signified wealth and taste in the homes of the elite. During Gosselin's time, Paris was not just a city but a stage for the wealthy, where timepieces like this were props in a carefully constructed performance of status. The clock's intricate design is laden with cultural values of the period; the opulence speaks to the era's emphasis on luxury. Consider, too, the hands that move relentlessly forward: time, for the elite, was both a measure of their control and a reminder of their mortality. The clock is not merely about telling time but about embodying a certain way of life. It’s a reminder that even objects of utility are deeply embedded in social narratives, reflecting and reinforcing the values of their time.