1 of 6

Gilt Bronze Louis XVI Clock by Duval, Case Attributed to Saint-Germain

About the Item

Frédéric Duval, Case Attributed to Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain Rare Chased Gilt Bronze Neo-Classical Clock Allegory of the Sciences Paris, early Louis XVI period, circa 1775 Height 44 cm; width 37.5 cm; depth 14.5 cm Provenance: Probably formerly in the collection of Antoinette-Louise-Marie Crozat de Thiers (1731-1809) widow of Count Joachim-Casimir-Léon de Béthune-Pologne (1724-1769); mentioned in his 1809 probate inventory as being in the drawing room of his Paris home: “…a clock made by Frédéric Duval on a base adorned with two children, gilt copper (sic), 100 francs”. The enamel dial, signed Frédéric Duval à Paris, indicates the hours in Roman numerals and the minutes in Arabic numerals; the gilt bronze case is finely chased. The bezel is framed by a stylised laurel leaf torus; the sides are decorated with rosettes. At the summit, a flaming classical urn is adorned with swags of oak leaves. Two finely sculpted putti are seated on clouds on either side of the dial; the first is surrounded by instruments of scientific measurement: a compass, a protractor and a set square, as well as a laurel wreath; the second holds a finely engraved map. The base is embellished with scrolls and spiral rosettes. The feet are truncated fluted columns. This clock’s unusual design places it among the finest horological creations of the early Louis XVI period. The composition is harmonious and the chasing and gilding are of the highest quality. These qualities also characterise the work of bronziers Jean-Louis Prieur and Robert Osmond (see H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p. 170, fig. 3.4.17), and are also apparent in a model by Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain, illustrated in J-D. Augarde, Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain (1719-1791), in L’Estampille/L’Objet d’art, n° 308, p. 74. We know of only one other comparable example; it is illustrated in P. Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la pendule française du Moyen Age au XXe siècle, Paris, 1997, p. 238, fig. C. Frédéric Duval à Paris Frédéric Duval trained in the workshop of François Béliard, then worked as an ouvrier libre for approximately a decade. Mentioned successively in the rue Mazarine in 1778 and the rue Jacob in 1781, he favoured cases made by the great bronziers of the day, including Saint-Germain, Morlay, Poisson, and Osmond. He appears to have ceased his activity toward the mid 1780’s. The Duke de Choiseul, a connoisseur of fine horology, was probably one of his most important clients. Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain (Paris 1719-1791) was probably the mot renowned Parisian of the mid 18th century. Active as of 1742, he did become a master craftsman until July 1748. He became famous for his many clock and cartel cases, such as his Diana the Huntress (an example is in the Louvre Museum), the clock supported by two Chinamen (a similar example is in the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Lyon), as well as several clocks based on animal themes, including elephant and rhinoceros clocks (an example in the Louvre Museum). In the early 1760’s he played an important role in the renewal of the French decorative arts and the development of the Neo-classical style, an important example of which may be seen in his Genius of Denmark clock, made for Frederic V and based on a model by Augustin Pajou (1765, in the Amalienborg Palace, Copenhagen). Saint-Germain also made several clocks inspired by the theme of Learning, or Study, based on a model by Louis-Félix de La Rue (examples in the Louvre Museum, the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, and the Metropolitan Museum in New York). Along with his clock cases, Saint-Germain also made bronze furniture mounts, such as fire dogs, wall lights, and candelabra. His entire body of work bears witness to his remarkable skills as a chaser and bronzeworker, as well as to his extraordinary creativity. He retired in 1776.

Creator:
Frédéric Duval (Clockmaker)
Attributed to:
Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain (Cabinetmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 17.33 in (44 cm)Width: 14.77 in (37.5 cm)Depth: 5.71 in (14.5 cm)
Style:
Louis XVI (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Gilt
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1770-1779
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1775
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Certificate of authenticity. Original gilding and movement Fully overhauled upon sale.
Seller Location:
Paris, FR
Reference Number:
Seller: P0451stDibs: LU142422615042

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock

H 16.5 in W 8 in D 3.5 in

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock

By Vincenti et Cie, Medaille D'Argent

Located in Astoria, NY

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Cartel Clock, mid 19th century, the circular white enamel dial, with strike on bell movement, surmounted by two handled covered centerpiece trailing acant...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

H 8.75 in W 5 in D 2 in

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

Located in Bradenton, FL

A very good quality Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock. French gilt bronze clock with enamel face, fruit and lion motif, on plinth. H 22.3 cm (8.8 in.), All clocks sold as is w...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock

H 26.5 in W 20 in D 7.75 in

French Louis XVI Gilt Bronze Mantle Clock

By Maison Deniere

Located in Queens, NY

French Louis XVI-style (19th Century) gilt bronze mantle clock with a center fluted column supporting the clock face draped with a garland and...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Gilt Bronze and Malachite Louis XVI Clock

H 27.17 in W 14.18 in D 5.32 in

Gilt Bronze and Malachite Louis XVI Clock

Located in London, GB

Gilt bronze and malachite Louis XVI clock French, late 18th century Measures: Height 69cm, width 36cm, depth 13.5cm This fine Louis XVI mantel clock is wrought from malachite and gilt bronze. The malachite veneer is a later, beneficial refinishing. The clock features a plinth-form malachite base supporting four malachite columns, each with a gilt bronze capital. The columns raise an ornately shaped top, which is inset with a circular white enamel dial and is surmounted by urn-form finials. Beneath the dial is suspended an ornately cast and finished gilt bronze drapery...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Cartel Clock, by Beurdeley

H 31.89 in W 10.24 in D 4.34 in

A Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Cartel Clock, by Beurdeley

By Alfred Emmanuel Louis Beurdeley

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

A Fine Louis XVI Style Gilt-Bronze Cartel Clock, by Beurdeley. Signed 'A Beurdeley Fils à Paris'. Surmounted by a ribbon tied globe the gilt-bronze case of this fine cartel clock...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock

H 16 in W 11.5 in D 5 in

Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock

Located in Astoria, NY

Louis XVI Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock, late 18th century, of architectural form, the pediment surmounted by an Apollo portrait bust, supporting by tapering columns, centered ...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Sevres Clock Set, 3

H 12 in W 6.75 in D 5 in

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Sevres Clock Set, 3

By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres

Located in Astoria, NY

Louis XVI Style Sevres Gilt Bronze Mounted Pink Ground Three Piece Clock Set, late 19th century, the clock centered by a white enamel dial painted with flowers, two handles with masq...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Louis XVI Architectural Gilt Bronze and Malachite Clock

H 20.87 in W 13.98 in D 4.34 in

Louis XVI Architectural Gilt Bronze and Malachite Clock

Located in London, GB

Louis XVI architectural gilt bronze and malachite clock French, late 18th century Measures: Height 53cm, width 35.5cm, depth 11cm Crafted from ormolu and a later malachite venee...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu

Louis XVI Period Gilt Bronze Mounted Malachite Clock

H 19.69 in W 13.59 in D 5.32 in

Louis XVI Period Gilt Bronze Mounted Malachite Clock

Located in London, GB

Louis XVI period gilt bronze mounted malachite clock French, late 18th century Measures: Height 50cm, width 34.5cm, depth 13.5cm This fine mantel clock was produced during the e...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Ormolu, Bronze

Bronze and Agate Table Clock Attributed to Jacques Duval Brasseur or Boeltz

H 11.82 in W 7.88 in D 3.15 in

Bronze and Agate Table Clock Attributed to Jacques Duval Brasseur or Boeltz

By Claude Victor Boeltz, Jacques Duval Brasseur

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Bronze and agate table clock attributed to Jacques Duval Brasseur or Claude Victor Boeltz.

Category

Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Amethyst, Bronze

Gilt Bronze Louis XVI Clock by Duval, Case Attributed to Saint-Germain

About the Item

You May Also Like

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Vintage 1970s European Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks