AFTER THE MODEL BY EDMÉ JEAN GALLIEN, BY GRAUX-MARLY FRÈRES, THE MOVEMENT BY GRIBELIN, PARIS, CIRCA 1870

Details

A FRENCH ORMOLU MANTLE CLOCK: ‘PENDULE A LA GLOIRE DU ROI’
AFTER THE MODEL BY EDMÉ JEAN GALLIEN, BY GRAUX-MARLY FRÈRES, THE MOVEMENT BY GRIBELIN, PARIS, CIRCA 1870
Surmounted by a wreath-bearing putto, above laurel and acanthus branches, the cylindrical case with dial signed 'Gribelin / A Paris' and with twin-barrel movement, Brocot escapement and rack striking to bell, the reverse of the movement stamped 'J.E.D', above a rockwork base issuing a sunburst, the naturalistic scrolled rocaille foot mounted with two further putti, one with a portrait medallion of Louis XIV, signed ‘GRAUX-MARLY FRERES / PARIS’
35 ½ in. (90 cm.) high; 29 ½ in. (75 cm.) wide; 13 ½ in. (34.5 cm.) deep

Provenance

A Private Collection, Volume II; Sotheby’s, New York, 19 April 2007, lot 31 ($85,000).

Brought to you by

Adam Kulewicz

akulewicz@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2898

Lot Essay

This spectacular clock is based on an 18th century model dedicated to the memory of the Sun King. Created in 1754, the original was a collaboration between fondeur Edmé-Jean Gallien, gilder Louis-François Gobert and clockmaker Jean Martinot and was initially placed in Louis XV's bedroom at the Château de Fontainebleau and is now on view in the cabinet du Conseil at Versailles (VMB 8706). The model was widely admired and copied in the 19th century and a version slightly larger than the present clock by Charles Crozatier and Henri Picard is displayed in the grand salon of the Napoleon III apartments at the Louvre.

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