France, late 17th Century / c. 1695
Clock
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Clock as furniture and woodwork (France, late 17th Century · c. 1695).
The Latin phrase inscribed on this clock, Dirigit atque movet, can be translated as "time constantly moves on."
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this furniture and woodwork as tortoise shell and brass inlay, gilt bronze and credits André-Charles Boulle (French, 1642–1732).
The museum's collection notes: Appointed cabinetmaker to King Louis XIV in 1672, André-Charles Boulle became a master of furniture making in France during the late 1600s until his death in 1732. Known primarily for his use of marquetry, in which metal patterns are inlaid into tortoiseshell then applied within the veneered surface of the furniture, Boulle established a level of quality and craftsmanship few others could achieve. As a result, his work found favor at the royal court and among other aristocrats and diplomats eager to impress the king. Often exhibiting stout architectural proportions with elegant groups of inlaid motifs, Boulle’s designs are an example of the i
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtClockOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.