EMPIRE WALL CLOCK

SWEDISH C. 1800 - 1810

GILTWOOD

SIGNED: NILS BERG, STOCKHOLM

NILS BERG (1721-1810) WAS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINGUISHED AND OUTSTANDING CLOCKMAKERS IN SWEDEN DURING THE 18TH CENTURY. HE BECAME A MASTER CLOCKMAKER BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT IN STOCKHOLM IN 1751. HIS LONG CAREER STRETCHED FROM THE ROCOCO PERIOD RIGHT THROUGH TO THE LATE GUSTAVIAN PERIOD. DURING THE LATE GUSTAVIAN PERIOD IN THE 1790'S EMPIRE FEATURES BEGIN TO APPEAR IN BOTH FURNITURE AND CLOCKS.

A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE WAS THE PRINCE REGENT (LATER KING CARL XIII) WHO TOOK HIS POSITION AS GRAND ADMIRAL VERY SERIOUSLY. HE COMMISSIONED A MAGNIFICENT PAIR OF CONSOLES WITH DOLPHINS FOR THE ROYAL PALACE OF STOCKHOLM AND CARVED DOLPHINS ON THE PANELLING OF HIS PALACE AT ROSERSBERG, WHICH ARE CELEBRATION OF SWEDEN'S NAVAL POWER.

IN THE BOOK 'CLOCKS AND CLOCKMASTERS OF SWEDEN AND FINLAND,' IT STATES THAT HE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE WORKED IN ENGLAND, AS ASPECTS OF THE MECHANISMS INSIDE THE CLOCKS SHOW A STRONG ENGLISH INFLUENCE.

NILS BERG IS REPRESENTED IN THE SWEDISH ROYAL COLLECTIONS, IN THE NORDISKA MUSEUM, THE STOCKHOLM CITY MUSEUM AND THE TIME MUSEUM, ILLINOIS, USA. HIS CLOCKS ARE FOUND IN MANY SWEDISH COUNTRY HOUSES.

LITERATURE: 'CLOCKS AND CLOCKMAKERS OF SWEDEN AND FINLAND' (URMAKARE OCH KLOCKOR I SVERIGE & FINLAND), 'NEOCLASSICISM IN THE NORTH' BY HÅKAN GROTH

35 ¾" X 23 ¾" / 91 cm x 60 cm

Stock no: HG 7050