Very rare Empire mantel clock with an astronomical dial - Josef Božek Prague

A very rare Empire mantel clock of outstanding artistic, craftsmanship, and technical quality, attributed to the renowned Czech clockmaker Josef Božek (1782–1835), an important constructor, inventor, and pioneer of Czech engineering. The dominant feature of the clock is its exceptional astronomical dial, decorated with a finely executed landscape painting rendered with remarkable sensitivity to atmosphere, light, and spatial depth. This painting may be attributed to the Workshop of Antonín Mánes, with whom Božek collaborated on selected commissions. The combination of masterful clockmaking and high-quality pictorial artistry makes this piece an exceptional example of interdisciplinary collaboration in Czech Empire-period art.

Bohemia, Josef Božek Prague - attributed, early 19th century, architecturally articulated veneered wooden case with black shellac finish, richly adorned with gilt Empire brass mounts, partially glazed and constructed of removable sections allowing easy access to the movement, original verge escapement movement with spring-driven mechanism, grande sonnerie on wire gongs, astronomical dial, made of thick brass sheet, is conceived in a pictorial format, decorated with oil painting featuring a landscape motif, bezel with skeleton-cut Roman numerals for night-time illumination, dial combines timekeeping and astronomical functions, displaying the night sky with the phases of the Moon and the day sky with the phase of the Sun, clock case rests on four gilt wooden feet modelled in the form of lion’s paws, overall dimensions 56,5 × 40 × 14 cm.