23rd Nov, 2022 12:00
European Works of Art
100
A FRENCH EMPIRE ORMOLU FIGURAL MANTEL CLOCK
A FRENCH EMPIRE ORMOLU FIGURAL MANTEL CLOCK, 'THE CHARIOT OF TELEMACHUS', PARIS, EARLY 19TH CENTURY, the case after the model by the bronzier Jean-André Reiche (1752-1817) of circa 1807, cast as a pair of horses drawing a lion-fronted chariot driven by Telemachus protected by Athena standing behind, the chariot wheel forming the dial with enamel chapter ring signed 'Ls BERGMILLER A PARIS', the pierced spokes revealing the front works signed 'Pons', the rectangular base applied with the eagle of Zeus (Jupiter) flanked by laurel wreaths and glaives, on four fasces supports, the detachable rear chariot wheel covering an eight-day movement with silk suspension (pendulum detached) and striking on a bell, outside count wheel detached, with key, 52cm long, 45cm high
This model is sometimes described as the Chariot of Diomedes, protected by Minerva. There exists a sketch by Reiche of the subject however, entitled 'Le Char de Télémaque', deposited in the Bibliothèque Impériale in 1807 (now the Bibliothèque Nationale, Ref.134-1807). The same model of clock is illustrated in Pierre Kjellberg, 'La Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XXe Siècle', 1997, p.417, plate D and by Tardy, 'Les Plus Belles Pendules Françaises', 1994, p.279. In Elke Niehüser, "Die Französische Bronzeuhr", 1997, p.69, it is suggested Reiche's design may have based on a model by the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Boyer (1783-1839). Similar clocks may be found in the collections of the Musée François Duesberg, Mons, Belgium, the Musée de Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France and in the Spanish Royal Collections.
According to Tardy's 'Dictionnaire des horlogers français', Bergmiller [presumably first name Louis] was active in Paris from 1810-1830 on the Rue du Petit-Lion Saint Sauveur.
The movement maker Pierre-Honoré-César Pons (1773-1851), having been associated with the prestigious firm of Lepaute, at the age of thirty set up shop as a clockmaker on rue de la Huchette in Paris.  A few years later in 1807, he was assigned by the State to revive the clockmaking industry of Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont, near Dieppe, in which he was highly successful, instigating production line methods for manufacturing blancs roulants leading to France’s lead in clock making. His finely crafted movements and precision timepieces were exhibited at the Paris exhibitions, receiving a Silver Medal in 1819 and 1823, and a Gold Medal in 1827, 1834, 1839 and 1844.
Sold for £4,000
A FRENCH EMPIRE ORMOLU FIGURAL MANTEL CLOCK, 'THE CHARIOT OF TELEMACHUS', PARIS, EARLY 19TH CENTURY, the case after the model by the bronzier Jean-André Reiche (1752-1817) of circa 1807, cast as a pair of horses drawing a lion-fronted chariot driven by Telemachus protected by Athena standing behind, the chariot wheel forming the dial with enamel chapter ring signed 'Ls BERGMILLER A PARIS', the pierced spokes revealing the front works signed 'Pons', the rectangular base applied with the eagle of Zeus (Jupiter) flanked by laurel wreaths and glaives, on four fasces supports, the detachable rear chariot wheel covering an eight-day movement with silk suspension (pendulum detached) and striking on a bell, outside count wheel detached, with key, 52cm long, 45cm high
This model is sometimes described as the Chariot of Diomedes, protected by Minerva. There exists a sketch by Reiche of the subject however, entitled 'Le Char de Télémaque', deposited in the Bibliothèque Impériale in 1807 (now the Bibliothèque Nationale, Ref.134-1807). The same model of clock is illustrated in Pierre Kjellberg, 'La Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XXe Siècle', 1997, p.417, plate D and by Tardy, 'Les Plus Belles Pendules Françaises', 1994, p.279. In Elke Niehüser, "Die Französische Bronzeuhr", 1997, p.69, it is suggested Reiche's design may have based on a model by the sculptor Jean-Baptiste Boyer (1783-1839). Similar clocks may be found in the collections of the Musée François Duesberg, Mons, Belgium, the Musée de Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France and in the Spanish Royal Collections.
According to Tardy's 'Dictionnaire des horlogers français', Bergmiller [presumably first name Louis] was active in Paris from 1810-1830 on the Rue du Petit-Lion Saint Sauveur.
The movement maker Pierre-Honoré-César Pons (1773-1851), having been associated with the prestigious firm of Lepaute, at the age of thirty set up shop as a clockmaker on rue de la Huchette in Paris.  A few years later in 1807, he was assigned by the State to revive the clockmaking industry of Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont, near Dieppe, in which he was highly successful, instigating production line methods for manufacturing blancs roulants leading to France’s lead in clock making. His finely crafted movements and precision timepieces were exhibited at the Paris exhibitions, receiving a Silver Medal in 1819 and 1823, and a Gold Medal in 1827, 1834, 1839 and 1844.
Auction: European Works of Art, 23rd Nov, 2022
