Egide Rombaux
(Schaarbeek 1865 - Ukkel 1942)

Art Nouveau longcase clock

White marble, giltbronze and malachite
Signed E. Rombaux and L. Evrard on the marble and Leonce Evrard a Bruxelles on the dial
Ca. 1900
Dimensions: 220 x 44 x 35cm

This unique longcase clock has been sculpted in solid white marble. It has the typical features of the organic Art Nouveau style and combined with some motives of the ‘belle epoque’ period such as the beaded edge on the sides. The movement, striking the hours on a single bell and with passing strike at the half hours, has a white enamel dial with Arabic numerals and elaborately pierced gilded hands. The gilded and malachite inlaid pendulum motions before a figure of a woman sculpted in bas-relief , Atropos. She is one of the three fates from Greek and Roman mythology. They spin the thread of life, measure and cut it. Atropos is usually the one cutting the thread in she is therefore identified by the scissors in her right hand. In her left hand she holds a distaff. Another reference to time is the snake with his own tail in its mouth. This is a symbol of eternity of Egyptian origin.

 

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