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Rare Empire Clock Au Nègre in Gilded Bronze Ormolu Denière et Matelin

About the Item

Rare and splendid Empire-era clock in ormolu gilded and cold-patinated bronze, Parisian manufacture called "Au Nègre" by Maison Denière et Matelin. Circa 1805 era. The watch has magnificent original mercury gilding in excellent condition, enameled dial with Roman numerals signed "Denière et Matelin Fabricants de Bronzes à Paris." breguet style hands for hours and minutes, the movement with silk wire suspension, chime at hours and half hours. The watch is delivered in working order, serviced by professional watchmaker. The watch depicts a young Nubian slave girl, recognizable not only by her somatic features but also by her bracelet and feathered turban; seated on a cushion, dressed in an embroidered tunic, she clasps her arms to her chest in a gesture of modesty. The skin color is given by a black patina that was applied freeddo while the eyes and mouth are painted. On its sides are a bow and quiver while eagles are depicted on the base. The theme of the Nubian slave was made famous by the very first "Au nègre" watch to appear in history: the "Bust of Nubian with Turban" watch that was given to Marie Antoinette in 1784. Nourished by travel accounts, Enlightenment Europe dreamed of exoticism: Bernard de Saint-Pierre, Chateaubriand and, before them, Daniel Defoe... literature teemed with romantic tales that, in this liberated 18th century, exalted the image of the good savage and the lost paradise. The Negro clocks produced at the end of the century are the quintessence of this pre-Romantic movement. These luxury items are intended for an educated clientele who know all about the adventures of our heroes. A clientele that is already breaking out, in their living room, thanks to the panoramic wallpapers that tell of Captain Cook's crazy adventures! The literary success of the Good Savage responds to that of its somber decorative interpretations. And artisans aesthetically exploit the contrast of patinas, dark for the natives' skin and golden for accessories. Indeed, it is often an idealized image of the Negro, seen through the prism of literature and exoticism. Or the Negro living in a paradise not yet perverted by the white conqueror, a Rousseauvian image if there is one. Having established this postulate, we will distinguish subjects inspired by fashionable novels, from Robinson Crusoe to Paul et Virginie. Literature has really given the genre some of its finest subjects. Each theme is the subject of delightful arrangements, unusual versions of which are obviously sought after by collectors. The Denière et Matelin association is a trading company created in the last years of the 18th century by bronze artists François-Thomas Matelin and Jean-François Denière and was immensely popular with great collectors and lovers of the time. Within a few years, it became one of the most important suppliers of bronze furniture in Europe, notably becoming one of the official suppliers of the Royal Furniture of Milan. At the same time, Denière and Matelin constituted a wealthy private clientele and mainly participated in the decoration of most imperial palaces and castles by delivering ornamental bronzes and clocks. The association "Denière et Matelin bronze makers in Paris" would end in 1820, a date after which the two men embarked on their careers separately.

Creator:
Jean-François Denière (Fashion House)
Dimensions:
Height: 14.57 in (37 cm)Width: 9.85 in (25 cm)Depth: 4.34 in (11 cm)
Style:
Empire (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Cold-Painted,Gilt
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1800-1809
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1805
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
Pistoia, IT
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU10131242439502

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