Louis XV Style Rhinoceros Pendulum, 19th Century

Louis xv style rhinoceros clock of the
19th century
The rhinoceros is surmounted by a box containing the clock, the movement engraved "Martin/ AParis" is surmounted by a Chinese character holding a parasol and flanked by garlands of flowers, on a rock base.
Dimensions: Height: 65cm. (25½in.); Width: 41cm. (16 in.); Depth: 19cm. (7 ½ in.)
Clocks adorned with animals, often exotic such as rhinos, elephants and lions, were very fashionable in the 18th century. The ornamentalists employed all their genius to create an incredible variety of details on these clocks, thus following the versatility of tastes and contemporary events.

The arrival of a living rhinoceros in Rotterdam in 1741, its trip to Versailles at the beginning of January 1749 and finally to Paris on February 3, 1749, created a real stir among the population but also among artists who rushed to broadcast his image and incorporate it on various supports including clocks. Mercer merchants were of course quick to seize this event to create a real craze around this animal which touched the whole of Europe as evidenced by the representation of a clock of our model on the portrait of Princess Marie-Louise de Bourbon-Parme by Laurent Pécheux dated 1765 and preserved at Palazzo Pitti in Florence.