Fine Clocks from the Collection of Jeremy Knight
Jeremy Knight, a Bath-based entrepreneur, has built his collection of fine gilt-bronze Empire-period mantel clocks from the early 2000s, owning over two hundred of the rarest models on the market.
Knight’s passion for Empire clocks has developed from a strong interest in the history of the Napoleonic period and, in turn, an appreciation of the quality of workmanship that these clocks demonstrate. This has now been translated into a book on the subject, detailing fifty of his most significant acquisitions.
The French Empire style was an evolution of the neoclassical movement of the 18th century, which took inspiration from the classical art and culture of Ancient Greece and Rome, and to a lesser extent, Egypt. It was adopted by Napoleon as a symbol of his ‘New Empire’ of magnificence for France at the start of the 19th century. The designs and subject matter were grand, symbolic of power and order, and featured the gods, heroes and muses of classical civilizations and mythology.
Napoleon became Emperor of the French in 1804 and remained in power through turbulent times until 1814/15. However, the Empire style began to form much earlier, from around 1790, continuing after the Battle of Waterloo and through the Bourbon Restoration until 1830.
The Empire style in the decorative arts did appear later, but the earliest thirty years are considered to be the finest, when the style was most congruent. This is also due in part to the era coinciding with a peak in the other technical crafts needed to make these clocks, including bronze manufacturing, gilding, sculpting, along with the work of clockmakers who produced extremely fine movements during this period.
It is for these reasons that Jeremy first became interested in Empire clocks, the quality of workmanship they display and the meaning behind their motifs, perhaps becoming more than a little obsessed with collecting the rarest and finest models. We are so pleased that Jeremy has yet again chosen the Fine Interiors department to help disperse some of his treasures to loving new homes.
