Table Clock, ‘The Abduction of Europa’

Apart from showing the time, clocks reveal status. In 18th century France, highly ornate figure clocks, often depicting scenes from antiquity, were created for the aristocracy. As seen here, not only was the craftsmanship of exquisite quality; even the abduction of Princess Europa is as richly detailed as Ovid describes, for the learned owners were acquainted with the mythological scenes.