Page 48 - catalogue 2018
P. 48
ATE lOUiS XV GilT BrOnzE-MOUnTED cHinESE AUBErGinE
POrcElAin VASE – circA 1770
The porcelain Qianlong Period (1736-1795)
Height: 54 cm. (21 ¼ in.) Width: 36 cm. (14 ¼ in.) Depth: 25 cm. (9 ¾ in.)
PrOVEnAncE
E. M. Hodgkins, london
liTErATUrE
S. de ricci, Catalogue of a Collection of Mounted Porcelain Belonging to E.M. Hodgkins, Paris, 1911, p. 45
This monumental vase with its bold early neo-classical decoration passed through the hands of the dealer,
E. M. Hodgkins over one hundred years ago when it was photographed with later feet which have
subsequently been removed.
A lOUiS XV GilT AnD PATinATED BrOnzE MAnTlE clOcK
rEPrESEnTinG THE RAPE OF EUROPA – circA 1755
The dial signed Viger à Paris and the movement signed Viger à Paris n°841- the case attributed to Jean-Joseph de
Saint-Germain (1719-1791)
François Viger (1708-1784)
Height: 57 cm. (22 ½ in.) Width: 45.5 cm. (18 in.) Depth: 19.5 cm. (7 ¾ in.)
The signed enamel dial has roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numbers for the minutes indicated by
gilt and engraved brass hands. The signed and numbered movement has an anchor escapement and silk
thread suspension. The clock chimes on the hour and half hour by means of a count wheel mounted on the
backplate.
The case represents zeus disguised as a bull being draped with flowers by Europa who is seated on the clock
case, flanked by an attendant and cupid kneeling on a cloud.
PrOVEnAncE
Sold Tajan, Paris, 20 June 2000, lot 117
cOMPArATiVE liTErATUrE
This particular model of Europa and the bull was commercialised by bronzier, Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain
who signed an identical clock sold at Sotheby’s london, 25 June 1965, lot 77. Another example with a dial
signed Jolly à Paris is part of the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, cambridge and is reproduced in H.
Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p. 125, no. 2.8.9. A further one is in the collection
of HM The Queen, illustrated in J. Harris, Buckingham Palace and its Treasures, new York, 1968, pp. 200-201.
Similar clocks representing the Rape of Europa can be found in the following collections:
Musée du louvre, Paris, signed Gille l’Ainé à Paris
Musée national du château de Versailles et de Trianon, Versailles, signed Gille l’Ainé à Paris
A lOUiS XVi GilT BrOnzE-MOUnTED EGYPTiAn POrPHYrY
cOVErED VASE - circA 1780-1785
Height: 39 cm. (15 ¼ in.) Width: 31 cm. (12 ¼ in.) Depth: 14 cm. (5 ½ in.)
PrOVEnAncE
collection of Octave Homberg, sold Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 5 June 1931, lot 278
The highly polished vase is typical of those produced either in Paris or in italy for the French market during
the latter part of the 18th century. Un-mounted examples survive such as the two pairs from the
collection of the duc d’Aumont now in the louvre (illustrated in P. Malgouyres, Porphyre: La pierre pourpre
des Ptolémeé s aux Bonaparte, Paris, 2003, pp. 175-177, nos. 67 and 68). Others were intended to be
completed with gilt bronze decoration as is the case here where winged figures with martial attributes
(probably including swords now missing) enrich the porphyry.
42
POrcElAin VASE – circA 1770
The porcelain Qianlong Period (1736-1795)
Height: 54 cm. (21 ¼ in.) Width: 36 cm. (14 ¼ in.) Depth: 25 cm. (9 ¾ in.)
PrOVEnAncE
E. M. Hodgkins, london
liTErATUrE
S. de ricci, Catalogue of a Collection of Mounted Porcelain Belonging to E.M. Hodgkins, Paris, 1911, p. 45
This monumental vase with its bold early neo-classical decoration passed through the hands of the dealer,
E. M. Hodgkins over one hundred years ago when it was photographed with later feet which have
subsequently been removed.
A lOUiS XV GilT AnD PATinATED BrOnzE MAnTlE clOcK
rEPrESEnTinG THE RAPE OF EUROPA – circA 1755
The dial signed Viger à Paris and the movement signed Viger à Paris n°841- the case attributed to Jean-Joseph de
Saint-Germain (1719-1791)
François Viger (1708-1784)
Height: 57 cm. (22 ½ in.) Width: 45.5 cm. (18 in.) Depth: 19.5 cm. (7 ¾ in.)
The signed enamel dial has roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numbers for the minutes indicated by
gilt and engraved brass hands. The signed and numbered movement has an anchor escapement and silk
thread suspension. The clock chimes on the hour and half hour by means of a count wheel mounted on the
backplate.
The case represents zeus disguised as a bull being draped with flowers by Europa who is seated on the clock
case, flanked by an attendant and cupid kneeling on a cloud.
PrOVEnAncE
Sold Tajan, Paris, 20 June 2000, lot 117
cOMPArATiVE liTErATUrE
This particular model of Europa and the bull was commercialised by bronzier, Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain
who signed an identical clock sold at Sotheby’s london, 25 June 1965, lot 77. Another example with a dial
signed Jolly à Paris is part of the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, cambridge and is reproduced in H.
Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p. 125, no. 2.8.9. A further one is in the collection
of HM The Queen, illustrated in J. Harris, Buckingham Palace and its Treasures, new York, 1968, pp. 200-201.
Similar clocks representing the Rape of Europa can be found in the following collections:
Musée du louvre, Paris, signed Gille l’Ainé à Paris
Musée national du château de Versailles et de Trianon, Versailles, signed Gille l’Ainé à Paris
A lOUiS XVi GilT BrOnzE-MOUnTED EGYPTiAn POrPHYrY
cOVErED VASE - circA 1780-1785
Height: 39 cm. (15 ¼ in.) Width: 31 cm. (12 ¼ in.) Depth: 14 cm. (5 ½ in.)
PrOVEnAncE
collection of Octave Homberg, sold Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 5 June 1931, lot 278
The highly polished vase is typical of those produced either in Paris or in italy for the French market during
the latter part of the 18th century. Un-mounted examples survive such as the two pairs from the
collection of the duc d’Aumont now in the louvre (illustrated in P. Malgouyres, Porphyre: La pierre pourpre
des Ptolémeé s aux Bonaparte, Paris, 2003, pp. 175-177, nos. 67 and 68). Others were intended to be
completed with gilt bronze decoration as is the case here where winged figures with martial attributes
(probably including swords now missing) enrich the porphyry.
42
