A gilded and patinated bronze mantelpiece clock: The Bronze Horseman, I. Dippner, St. Petersburg, circa 1835

after Falconet's statue  of Peter I, the sculptural base with inscription to one side: Peter the First / Catherine the Second / 1782 in Cyrillic, to the other: Petro Primo / Catharina Segunda / 1782 and signed: I. Dippner / St. Petersburg in Cyrillic, the base inset with an ormolu clock decorated with foliate scrolls and laurel and berry border, the whole with spear-head fence surround

The clock hands are missing. Seven of the spear heads are missing from the fence. The horse is a little loose on the base. The ormolu is worn in places. However this is a fine and rare piece.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Ivan Ivanovich Dipner was a master bronzesmith active in St Petersburg from 1810-1840.  He made works for the Imperial Court and bronze mounts for the Imperial Glass Factory. He was employed as craftsman to the court in 1822 where he sculpted mantelclocks, chandeliers, candelabra and lamps.

A near identical clock to the model offered here is held in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, and is described by Igor Sychev as: "a rather free repetition of the model for the equestrian state of Peter the Great[1]" by Falconet. The example in the Hermitage is believed to have been made for the Industrial Exhibition in 1835 and was presented the following year by Dippner to Nicholas I.  It was graciously received and the Tsar requested that the craftsman be paid one and a half thousand roubles for it. It has been recorded that following the bronze clocks acceptance into the Hermitage, Dippner made copies of 'The Bronze Horseman', presumably the offered lot is one of those later models.

[1] Igor Sychev: Russian Bronze, Trefoil, Moscow, 2003, pg. 108