About the Clock

The history the Clock

References

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About the clock... On a visit to his brother, the King of Spain, Napoleon saw a pair of clocks made by master clock maker Jean Francois de Belle. Soon, Jean had a commission from Napoleon to create a clock for the Empress Josephine. In a year, the clock was made. Urn shaped, it was decorated with eagles, serpents, rams, cupids, flowers and horns of plenty. At three feet and over 100 pounds, the clock is a wonderous site to behold. The animated workings were a fascination to all who witnessed them. Every three hours, a bird appeard and sang one of three songs, with music coming from a hidden miniature pipe organ. Doors would open in the middle and also in the bottom, revealing two scenes from ancient Roman mythology. In the upper scene, Neptune, riding a seashell, looks over Charon, who is ferrying a passenger on the river Styx, with mermaids gracefully playing around the boat. Water fountains are simulated with glass and silver reflections in a mesmerizing display.   Back to the top The history of the clock... When Napoleon banished Josephine, she retired to various estates, but preferred La Maimison. The clock was taken to La Maimison. Upon Josephine's death in 1814, her son and daughter took posession of it. The Beauharnais family used it later as ransom for the attempted release of Napoleon from the isle of Helena. The attempt failed, of course, as history records. At the death of Napoleon, the clock disappeared. However, Joseph, the older brother of Napoleon came to Philedelphia in 1815, bringing with him a number of possessions, many of which are still found in the city. He also leased a number of houses in the local area, only one of which is still standing. It is thought that Joseph brought this clock with him when he came to Philadelphia. How the clock passed form the Beauharnais family (Josephine's) to Joseph Bonaparte would make a very intering story, as there was deep animosity between Josephine and Joseph almost from the moment they first met. Her children were equally despised by him. In 1936, the clock surfaced in the Philadelphia area and was donated to the Franklin Institite by Mrs. S. Warren Ingersoll. In 1950, the Empress Josephine clock received a massive renovation at the hands of an expert named Orville R. Hagans in Denver, Colorado, and was on display at the Denver Clock Mannor for five years before returning home to Philadelphia. It is now on display at the Franklin Institute. Back to the top References The Denver Post, "Resurrection of the Empress," George Mace Martin, dated around 1952. [Exact date obscured.] The Philadelphia Daily News, "Napoleon was not Here," dated October 23, 1992. The Philadelphia Inquirer, "A marker will identify the residence of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother," dated January 9, 2000. Back to the top

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