Ferdinand Barbedienne 1810-1892 An Impressive gilt-bronze and rosewood cartel clock circa 1872-75, made in collaboration with Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse and Louis-Constant Sévin

June Ellen Hargrove, The Life and Works of Albert-Ernest Carrier- Belleuse, New York and London, 1977, pl. 238 and p. 254 for a discussion on a large mantel clock featuring the same Grecian figures.

Overall in good original condition. Areas of tarnishing to gilt-bronze in places. Scratches to gilt wood banding at outer edge of clock. Age crack to rosewood veneers in places and with some minor losses of rosewood veneers to the bottom right-hand corner of the clock. The arched wooden backplate forming the cartel with seven holes of approximately 1/2 inch in diameter due to former fitting to a stone wall. there are no keys.
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The present clock is the successful fruit of the collaboration of three leading Parisian craftsmen: Barbedienne, Sévin and Carrier-Belleuse.  It successfully and cleverly incorporates variant styles such as French renaissance with its arched rosewood veneered back-plate, putto and grotesque masks and the Greek revival style represented by classical female figures holding aloft the dial.  Hargrove rightly states, "...Carrier-Belleuse valued anatomical clarity, and, unlike many of his contemporaries, he rarely allowed the profusion of drapery to obscure the form of the figure itself. Warmth radiates from his figures..."

Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) established his Parisian foundry in 1839 and quickly became one of the most active and distinguished French bronziers of the 19th century. In addition to bronze réductions originating from Barbedienne's previous partnership with Achille Collas, the firm also produced decorative objects in styles reflecting the various exotic and revival trends popular at the time, as is evident in the present lot elegantly rendered in the Greek revival and renaissance manner. After Barbedienne's death the business was taken over by his nephew, Leblanc-Barbedienne, and continued until 1953.

Louis-Constant Sévin, favored sculptor and designer of the Barbedienne workshop, collaborated with the master from 1855 for a period of thirty-three years.

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (1824-1887) was one of the most important and innovative sculptors of 19th century France. Dr. Anita Brookner called him a "manipulator of styles," an epithet addressing Carrier-Belleuse's versatility and fearless experimentation in the fine and decorative arts. Indeed, Carrier-Belleuse thrived during the second half of the 19th century, a time in which sculpture became more multifaceted and less dependent on an established, singular style. Whether he produced portrait busts, public moments, sculpture or decorative wares and designs, his art engendered unequivocal praise from his contemporaries. Carrier-Belleuse exhibited at the Paris Salon beginning in 1857, the acknowledged official art sanctum which ensured future stability, public recognition and desired patronage. His business acumen and self-promotion were prophetic, and he carved his public image as boldly as his sculpture, becoming one of the most popular figures of his time.

A large gilt-bronze mantel clock, over 5 feet high, modelled with the same Grecian figures holding a similar dial, sold Delorme-Colin du Brocage, Paris, June 17, 2009, lot 132, €153,405 ($218,785).