Are there still people interested in such clocks?

[P.Hageman]

Saw this clock in a high street antique shop, did cost a lot of money. Is not this the peak of racism? Are there still people buying this kind of clocks?

 

[Chris Radano]

You are probably annoyed that it is so expensive Yes apparently people still buy that type of clock. And looking at French auctions people pay handsome sums of money for that type of clock.
I usually don't participate in controversial or political discussion. Some people today are overly sensitive today in my opinion. Is a 220 year old clock reflective social issues in the 21st century? To some people the answer is "yes".
To answer your question literally,
The Oxford Languages definition of "racist":

adjective

1. characterized by or showing prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.

At the time the clock was made (Empire), it was more exotic than meant to be antagonistic towards Africans. Perhaps the motif is discriminatory, but it is a product of the times. The clock was made to be purchased by the wealthy class. As well, it was a display of the skills of the bronzier, to show a contrast of color. I have seen many blackened bronze accented clocks that do not depict Africans. But apparently still purchased by the wealthy class.

 

[novicetimekeeper]

I think the market is more limited, and so the price is depressed from what it might have been otherwise.

 

[demoman3955]

Id have no problem buying one like that if it was within my budget.

 

[Robert Gift]

I would not buy it unless I liked the clock and could remove it from the racist case.
Oremove the caucasian masters from the top and replace with something fun.

 

[Chris Radano]

I admit I didn't look carefully at the top. I would suspect the top is a later replacement. It could be a made up clock. I think the lower part including the African figures are turn of the 19th c. And the top is maybe 30 years later. Lol, the way the clock looks is bad.

 

[michael isaacs]

I agree with Chris, the figures on top are out of scale with the others.

 

[demoman3955]

I would not buy it unless I liked the clock and could remove it from the racist case.
Oremove the caucasian masters from the top and replace with something fun.

well any nationality could be on top or carrying the 2 people on top, because slavery was colorblind, and the 2 on top look Egyptian to me.

 

[Chris Radano]

Les pendules dites "Au bon sauvage" et les créations de Jean-Simon Deverberie : L'Afrique et l'Amérique

Je ne peux malheureusement pas citer ne serait-ce qu'un extrait de cet article, publié sur le site internet de la Gazette Drouot, et qui présente ce sujet de fa

marie-antoinette.forumactif.org

Here I found more subject matter, and a similar clock to the OP is pictured so it does look original. I just think it's purely fantastical. And the dog jumping on the classical figures on top of a platform, it appears awkward defying the law of gravity and too contrived. I would look for a better example personally.

 

[Steven Thornberry]

I’ve deleted one post in this thread and will now close the thread to avoid further unpleasant language. Let’s go on to other things.