Style Other / Ref.11889

JULIUS GROSCHKUS (active in the second half of the 19th century), Mahogany grandfather clock with exotic decoration

This mahogany grandfather clock was made by the workshop of Julius Grotschkus in Berlin. This German master cabinetmaker of the second half of the 19th century is renowned for the quality and variety of his historicist creations. Supported by two atlantes with African features, this mahogany grandfather clock has two gilt-bronze weights. The brass dial is richly decorated with finely incised acanthus leaves. Above the dial, Cupid emerges from the clouds, his left foot on the globe, holding a cup. On either side are two inscriptions: "Time is running out" and "Time heals." The gold background of the engraved composition represents the dawning sunrise, a symbol of the passage of time. The African atlantes supporting the clock's body are of exceptional quality. Positioned on either side of a niche housing the clockwork mechanism's weights, their stooped posture conveys remarkable grace, and their facial features are rendered with lifelike realism. The depiction of this pair underscores the significance of the German Empire's colonial expansion during this period and may suggest that this imposing piece was created for a clientele whose wealth originated in these territories. Julius Groschkus's clientele consisted primarily of an urban bourgeois elite who had amassed fortunes through the rapid industrialization of the German Empire. Groschkus's talent was widely recognized in his time, as evidenced by the plaque affixed to the clock, which mentions his status as a master woodworker, "Hof Tischlermeister."