Lot 64
  • 64

A gilt-bronze and patinated bronze mounted porphyry clock, Louis XVI, the dial signed Gautrin and Coteau, the pendulum painted by Jean-Frédéric Schall

Estimate
150,000 - 250,000 EUR
bidding is closed

Description

  • porphyry, gilt-bronze, patinated bronze
  • Haut. 74,5 cm., larg. 33,5 cm., prof. 19,5 cm. ; Height 29⅓in., width 13¼in., depth 7⅔in.
the painted and gilt enamelled dial with the hours, minutes, days of the week, months, Zodiac signs and moon phases, surmounted by two children representing the Arts, on four ionic columns, on a stepped base with acanthus leaves, the pendulum painted with an escarpolette scene

Provenance

After an Orlov family tradition, gift of Catherine II of Russia (1729-1796) to Count Grigory Orlov (1734-1783);
Prince Nicolaï Orlov (1827-1885), thence by descent;
Bought from Lucien Delplace, Brussels

Condition

The illustration of the catalogue is accurate. Good overall condition. There are the inevitable dents, marks and scratches due to age and use. The gilding is very slightly rubbed and tarnished. There is one minute chip to the back left hand side porphyry column base. The dial: there are some hairline cracks and a few restorations to the enameled dial, especially to the upper part (approx. 7,5 x 1 cm. near XI et I.), and one crack from the center of the dial to III. There are some refreshments to the pendulum painting. Please note that we do not guarantee that the mechanism is in working order, even though it seems complete. Impressive clock, with a very nice enameled dial by the famous artist Coteau, rare porphyry elements and an interesting provenance.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Pierre-François Gautrin, receievd maître horloger in 1768 ; Joseph Coteau, received maître peintre-émailleur in 1778 ; Jean-Frédéric Schall, painter (1752-1825)

Our clock used to belong to the Orloff family, and more precisely to Prince Nicolas Orloff (1827-1885). He was a Russian diplomat and served as Ambassador in Brussels for more than ten years, before serving in Austria, London and Paris.  He was the nephew of the Earl Gregori Orloff, lover of Empress Catherine II, who might have given this clock to him.  Gregori Orloff had an exceptionnal art collection, mainly due to the many gifts Catherine II gave him. She retrieved some of them when he died.

With exceptionnal chiselling, the children on the upper part can be linked to engravings by Huquier after François Boucher, in particular La Peinture and La Poésie. The painted scene on the pendulum represents 'the escarpolette' and can be attributed to the painter Jean-Frédéric Schall (1752-1825), who specialised in galantes scenes, as Boucher did before him. Our painted scene recalls the painting of 'Hasards heureux de l'escarpolette', by Jean-Honoré Fragonard of 1767, currently at the Wallace Collection.

Joseph Coteau (1740-1812), a famous enameller, delivered many enamel dials to the most famous clockmakers of the late 18th century and early 19th century. Former student of the Académie de Saint-Luc, established in 1766, he then settled on the rue Poupée in 1772. Constantly innovating, he discovered a new process to fix the gold onto enamel, and worked with the Manufacture de Sèvres. He also embellished many jewellery and porcelain pieces. The zodiac signs on our dial are similar as the ones on a clock in the Musée National de la Céramique de Sèvres (ill. in P. Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la pendule française du Moyen Âge au XXe siècle, Paris, 1997, p.230, fig. B).