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Lot Essay
JEAN-BAPTISTE BAILLON
Jean-Baptiste Baillon was one of France's most celebrated clockmakers of the 18th century. The son of Jean-Baptiste II, he was first received on 14 July 1727 as Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire de la Reine, in reversion (1738) and in exercise after the death of Claude Martinot (1744). Premier Valet de Chambre de la Reine (before 1748) then Premier Valet de Chambre and Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire de la Dauphine Marie-Antoinette (1770). Established Place Dauphine (1738), Rue Dauphine (after 1751). He was one of the most prolific Parisian clock makers of the 18th century. In 1753 Berthoud describing his workshop as ‘the finest and richest Clock Shop’. Baillon used cases by the best makers of the day; the Caffieris, J. B. Osmond, J. J. de Saint-Germain and B. Lieutaud.
THE CLOCK CASE
Inventory of the stock of the Paris bronzier Jean-Joseph de Saint Germain (1719-1791), established on 14 December 1747, following the death of his first wife, a cartel with figure of Diana was listed.
This was a successful model for Saint Germain and a number of variations on the same basic design were produced: A similar large scale ormolu cartel clock with movement by Baillon is in the Rosebery collection at Dalmeny House (J.-D. Augarde op cit) further examples of his work can be found in the Musée des Arts et métiers, Paris and the Science Museum, London; a similar cartel signed by Saint Germain, the dial and movement also signed by Baillon, from the collection of Mrs. Georges Lebey, is in the Louvre Museum. (D. Alcouffe op cit); another of same model, unsigned, the movement by Mynuel is in the Swedish Royal collection, Stockholm (Ottomeyer, op cit).
THE MODEL AT AUCTION
Those clocks to have appeared at auction include:
Collection of Mr E. Cronier, Paris, 4/5 December 1905, lot 126; the movement by Montjoye.
Collection of Baron Albert von Goldsmith-Rothschild, Château de Grüneburg, Berlin, 14 March 1933, lot 35.
Collection Cahen D'Anvers, Palais Galliera, 23 March 1971, lot 65 and again at Christie's, London, 13 June 1991, lot 54, the dial signed Martin.
Christie's, London, 9 June 1994, lot 16, signed Saint Germain, the dial signed Gilbert.
Collection of County Dorsan Goethals of Mude, Sotheby's, Monaco, 27 June 1998, lot 286, the movement by Louis François Herbault.
Sotheby's, Monaco, 18 June 1999, lot 61, the movement by Jean-Baptiste Baillon and numbered 2278.
Collection of André Meyer, Christie's, New York, 26 October 2001, lot 61, the movement by Etienne Baillon.
Christie’s, Paris, 23 June 2005, lot 435, by Jean-Baptiste Baillon and numbered 2062.
Jean-Baptiste Baillon was one of France's most celebrated clockmakers of the 18th century. The son of Jean-Baptiste II, he was first received on 14 July 1727 as Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire de la Reine, in reversion (1738) and in exercise after the death of Claude Martinot (1744). Premier Valet de Chambre de la Reine (before 1748) then Premier Valet de Chambre and Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire de la Dauphine Marie-Antoinette (1770). Established Place Dauphine (1738), Rue Dauphine (after 1751). He was one of the most prolific Parisian clock makers of the 18th century. In 1753 Berthoud describing his workshop as ‘the finest and richest Clock Shop’. Baillon used cases by the best makers of the day; the Caffieris, J. B. Osmond, J. J. de Saint-Germain and B. Lieutaud.
THE CLOCK CASE
Inventory of the stock of the Paris bronzier Jean-Joseph de Saint Germain (1719-1791), established on 14 December 1747, following the death of his first wife, a cartel with figure of Diana was listed.
This was a successful model for Saint Germain and a number of variations on the same basic design were produced: A similar large scale ormolu cartel clock with movement by Baillon is in the Rosebery collection at Dalmeny House (J.-D. Augarde op cit) further examples of his work can be found in the Musée des Arts et métiers, Paris and the Science Museum, London; a similar cartel signed by Saint Germain, the dial and movement also signed by Baillon, from the collection of Mrs. Georges Lebey, is in the Louvre Museum. (D. Alcouffe op cit); another of same model, unsigned, the movement by Mynuel is in the Swedish Royal collection, Stockholm (Ottomeyer, op cit).
THE MODEL AT AUCTION
Those clocks to have appeared at auction include:
Collection of Mr E. Cronier, Paris, 4/5 December 1905, lot 126; the movement by Montjoye.
Collection of Baron Albert von Goldsmith-Rothschild, Château de Grüneburg, Berlin, 14 March 1933, lot 35.
Collection Cahen D'Anvers, Palais Galliera, 23 March 1971, lot 65 and again at Christie's, London, 13 June 1991, lot 54, the dial signed Martin.
Christie's, London, 9 June 1994, lot 16, signed Saint Germain, the dial signed Gilbert.
Collection of County Dorsan Goethals of Mude, Sotheby's, Monaco, 27 June 1998, lot 286, the movement by Louis François Herbault.
Sotheby's, Monaco, 18 June 1999, lot 61, the movement by Jean-Baptiste Baillon and numbered 2278.
Collection of André Meyer, Christie's, New York, 26 October 2001, lot 61, the movement by Etienne Baillon.
Christie’s, Paris, 23 June 2005, lot 435, by Jean-Baptiste Baillon and numbered 2062.