Michelangelo klok c. 1849 - 1852

Jean-Jacques Feuchère created this clock, probably in Paris in the 19th century, using bronze and gilt bronze, common luxury materials at the time. Feuchère skillfully cast and chased these materials to create a visually striking and complex object. The bronze elements, like the figure of Michelangelo, were likely cast using the lost-wax method, a laborious process involving creating a wax model, encasing it in plaster, melting out the wax, and pouring in molten bronze. The gilt bronze details, achieved through fire-gilding, add highlights and an opulent feel, reflecting the fashion for elaborate ornamentation at the time. This clock demonstrates a tension between art and industry. The bronze casting and gilding required a skilled workshop and a division of labor, while the design celebrates individual artistic genius, referencing the famous Renaissance sculptor. Ultimately, the "Michelangelo Clock" encapsulates the 19th-century fascination with both artistic virtuosity and industrial production, blurring the lines between art and craft.