Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
Lot 45*
A good late 18th century French ormolu striking mantel clock, the case by St Germain The movement and dial signed Jean Martin, A Paris. The case stamped St Germain
Amended
2 July 2025, 13:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£10,000 - £15,000
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A good late 18th century French ormolu striking mantel clock, the case by St Germain
The movement and dial signed Jean Martin, A Paris. The case stamped St Germain
The matt and burnished gilt bronze case surmounted by a cast urn with ram's head mounts and draped laurel wreaths, over an arched top and pinecone finials on concave pedestals supported by four finely cast putto, the sides with pierced sunflower frets, the front with a tied laurel wreath protecting a lattice-framed observation window. All raised on a shaped base with burnished Vitruvian scroll fret and applied floral bosses. Stamped ST. GERMAIN above the solid rear door. The 4.5 inch white enamel dial framed by a bold laurel wreath bezel with black enamel Arabic five-minute makers framing the minute track with gilt highlights and Roman hour numerals, signed to the centre Martin, A Paris with engraved pierced gilt hands and offset winding squares. The movement with circular plates with flattened lower edge and repeat signature to the backplate, with external star count wheel (the hours individually numbered), the backcock converted from silk suspension to a Brocot style, (now lacking its pendulum), striking the hours on a bell mounted to the backplate. 53cms (21ins) high.
The matt and burnished gilt bronze case surmounted by a cast urn with ram's head mounts and draped laurel wreaths, over an arched top and pinecone finials on concave pedestals supported by four finely cast putto, the sides with pierced sunflower frets, the front with a tied laurel wreath protecting a lattice-framed observation window. All raised on a shaped base with burnished Vitruvian scroll fret and applied floral bosses. Stamped ST. GERMAIN above the solid rear door. The 4.5 inch white enamel dial framed by a bold laurel wreath bezel with black enamel Arabic five-minute makers framing the minute track with gilt highlights and Roman hour numerals, signed to the centre Martin, A Paris with engraved pierced gilt hands and offset winding squares. The movement with circular plates with flattened lower edge and repeat signature to the backplate, with external star count wheel (the hours individually numbered), the backcock converted from silk suspension to a Brocot style, (now lacking its pendulum), striking the hours on a bell mounted to the backplate. 53cms (21ins) high.
Footnotes
Literature
J.-B. Augarde, "Jean-Joseph de St Germain, bronzier (1719-1791)", in L'estampille l'objet d'art, December 1996, n°308, p. 73
Provenance:
Perhaps Monsieur de Billy's collection sale, 15-19th of November 1784 sale, n°189;
Perhaps Monsieur Morel's collection sale, 3rd of May, 1786
Saleroom notices
Please note that this lot was imported into the UK and has added tax on the hammer.
Additional information
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