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Early 19th Century Pendule Portefaix, Firegilt Bronze, Empire, Circa 1810
About the Item
Pendule Portefaix
France (Toulouse)
bronze, enamel
Empire around 1810
Dimensions: H x W x D: 36 x 28 x 11 cm
Description:
Beautiful fire-gilded and patinated bronze pendulum from the early 19th century. Depicted is a young man carrying a large cotton package on his back. In his right hand he holds a letter, with his left he is leaning on a bamboo stick. His tobacco pipe is stuck in his hat string, and he carries his water bottle on his belt.
In interesting color contrast is not only the fire gilding to the deep black patinated bronze, but also particularly striking are the white glass eyes.
The ciselleur has managed to make materials tangible through different surface treatments. For example, the skin is discreetly hatched differently from the cotton fabric of the trousers; the bottle, bracelets and pannier are polished in gold. The proportions of the figure are perfectly struck, and the drapery on the trousers emphasizes the dynamic movement.
The heart of the watch is an 8-day movement with date from the Prevost Freres workshop, which is attested in Toulouse from 1809.
The Breguet hands are blued, the pendulum is suspended on a thread, typical of the time. The clock strikes a bell on the half and full hour.
Fun Facts:
The depiction of Le Portefaix is by Parisian bronze caster Jean-André Reiche, who registered his artistic design in Paris in 1808. In addition to the depiction of the cotton picker, there are numerous other pendulums that deal with the theme of colonization. Other themes from the "new world" were also treated artistically - exotic animals and plants - butterflies, birds of paradise, tobacco and spices....
Today's viewers react to the objects with both fascination and irritation. Enthusiastic on the one hand by the obvious quality of the detailed bronzes, on the other hand distanced-cautious because of the possible discrimination that is suspected behind it. The ambivalence of this feeling motivates the search for the conditions of origin of these pendulums.
Europeans found their new ideal of the natural man mainly in fictional and realistic travelogues about the Indians of North America, the black Africans and the South Sea Islanders. Some of these works are still considered world literature today; think of Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels" (1726) or Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" (1719).
As a sign of admiration for the exotic, the "Au bon Sauvage" pendulums are a typical feature of the Enlightenment at the end of the 18th century. They show the longings of a hitherto Europe-centered society, which was urged to look beyond its usual horizon, especially by the discovery of seafaring and by the revolution of 1789.
[Source: Elke Niehüser - The French Bronze Clock pp. 140-143]
Specimens of this clock are in the world's great museums, such as the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
Condition:
Beautiful preservation of fire gilding with rubbing to the base and pommel.
Cleaned from scratch and perfectly working movement.
This clock is illustrated in several reference books, including:
Giacomo et Aurélie Wannenes - Les plus belles pendules francaises p. 312
Elke Niehüser - French Bronze Clocks fig. 240
The Prevost Freres workshop is documented in the following literature:
Brian Loomes - Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World p. 628
- Dimensions:Height: 14.18 in (36 cm)Width: 11.03 in (28 cm)Depth: 4.34 in (11 cm)
- Style:Empire (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1809
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Beautiful preservation of fire gilding with rubbing to the base and pommel. Cleaned and perfectly working movement.
- Seller Location:Greven, DE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU5419235442152
About the Seller
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Münster, Germany
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
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