Live Auction 8023The Opulent Eye - 500 Years Decorative Arts Europe
A LARGE FRENCH ORMOLU STRIKING MANTEL CLOCK, ENTITLED 'PENDULE A LA GLOIRE DU ROI'
Lot 118 PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE EUROPEAN FAMILY COLLECTION (LOTS 104-149)

A LARGE FRENCH ORMOLU STRIKING MANTEL CLOCK, ENTITLED 'PENDULE A LA GLOIRE DU ROI'

OF LOUIS XV STYLE, AFTER THE MODEL BY EDMÉ JEAN GALLIEN, ATTRIBUTED TO MAISON MILLET, PARIS, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY

Closed22 September 2011

Price Realised

GBP 12,500

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A LARGE FRENCH ORMOLU STRIKING MANTEL CLOCK, ENTITLED 'PENDULE A LA GLOIRE DU ROI'
OF LOUIS XV STYLE, AFTER THE MODEL BY EDMÉ JEAN GALLIEN, ATTRIBUTED TO MAISON MILLET, PARIS, LAST QUARTER 19TH CENTURY
CASE: drum-shaped surmounted by a wreath-bearing putto, above laurel and acanthus branches and rockwork backed by a sunburst, the naturalistic scrolled acanthus base mounted with two further putti, one with a portrait medallion of Louis XIV, the 'cockerel' shield mount to the base centre stamped to the reverse 'MB' for Millet Blaise DIAL: white enamel with blue steel hands, signed 'Lambert à Paris' MOVEMENT: twin barrels with anchor escapement and strike on bell, stamped '410/M' and '619'
19¼ in. (74.5 cm.) high; 24 in. (61 cm.) wide; 7¾ in. (19.5 cm.) deep

Specialist note

Supplied during the reign of Louis XV, this clock was conceived as a celebration of the Glory of France and as a commemoration of the Sun King, Louis XIV. Edmé Jean Gallien's original version of this sumptuous mantel clock, with gilding by Gobert and movement by Martinot, was supplied for the Cabinet du Roi at Versailles in 1754.

A 92 cm. high version of this clock by Maison Millet sold The Property of a Private Foundation, Sotheby's, London, 27 September 1991, lot 55 and one by Graux-Marly Frères sold A Private Collection Volume II, Sotheby's, New York, lot 31 ($102,000). See D. Alcouffe et al., Gilt Bronzes in the Louvre Dijon, 2004, pp. 296-297 for a mid-19th century example with case by Charles Crozatier and Henri Picard, in Napoleon III's apartments at the Louvre. Please see lot 28 for a note on Maison Millet.