Table clock Gustav Gurschner ca. 1899

This exceptional table clock is among the rare and highly sought-after timepieces designed by Gustav Gurschner. Created around 1899, it masterfully combines sculptural elegance with the distinctive language of French Art Nouveau, enriched by Gurschner’s unique artistic sensibility. Having studied in Paris in 1897, Gurschner absorbed the influence of French Art Nouveau deeply, a heritage clearly evident in his seamless fusion of functionality and figurative symbolism.
At the heart of this finely articulated composition stands the figure of Psyche, one of the most compelling characters from Greco-Roman mythology. A mortal princess of extraordinary beauty, Psyche was separated from her lover Eros due to her curiosity and was subjected to arduous trials under the watchful eye of Aphrodite. Only after a prolonged journey of endurance was she granted immortality and elevated to the allegory of the immortal soul.

By integrating this mythological figure into the functional form of a clock, the piece evokes a subtle, poetic tension: Psyche’s narrati, marked by separation, patience, and transformation, reflects the passage of time as well as the yearning to transcend it. While the clock mechanism measures and regulates quantifiable time, Psyche symbolizes the timeless and eternal – forces beyond human grasp.
The sculptural execution reveals Gurschner’s keen sensitivity to elegance and expression: the softly modeled drapery and graceful posture of the figure harmoniously merge with the clock case. The ornamental framing accentuates the object’s sculptural presence, creating a unified and captivating work of art.