Page 51 - catalogue 2018
P. 51
OUiS XVi GilT BrOnzE-MOUnTED OnYX VASE - THE
VASE PrOBABlY iTAliAn lATE 17TH cEnTUrY, THE
MOUnTS circA 1780
Height: 41.5 cm. (16 ¼ in.) Width: 27 cm. (10 ½ in.)
This sumptuous vase perfectly illustrates the passion for collecting rare marbles and precious
stones in Parisian society in the 18th century. Stones were imported from italy where they
were often re-worked in Parisian ateliers and then given rich gilt bronze mounts to fit the taste
of the day.
The most important collector of this kind was the duc d’Aumont (1709-1782), who amassed an
enormous collection of hard stones, many of with specially commissioned mounts by the
master bronzier, Pierre Gouthière. The garlands on this vase have close similarities with gilt
bronzes on a pair of hardstone vases supplied by Gouthière to the Duke, illustrated in c.
Vignon and c. Baulez, Pierre Gouthière, Virtuoso Gilder at the French Court, new York, 2016, pp.
184-185.
Other pietra dura vases in the louvre and in the Wallace collection have very similar cloven
feet as well as another marble example sold Sotheby’s Monaco, 7 February 1982, lot 360.
The cover is a modern replacement
A lOUiS XV GilT AnD PAinTED BrOnzE AnD MEiSSEn
POrcElAin COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE clOcK - circA 1750
The dial signed Benoist Gérard à Paris, the movement signed Benoist Gérard à Paris N°535
The Meissen porcelain 18th century, the figures of Pantaleone and columbine modelled by
Johann Joachim Kändler
Height: 59 cm. (23 ¼ in.) Width: 41 cm. (16 ¼ in.) Width at base: 38 cm. (15 in.) Depth at
base: 21.5 cm. (8 ½ in.)
PrOVEnAncE
collection of M. Dreyfus de Gonzales, sale Paris, 8 June 1896, lot 222 (7,600 francs to M. de
clercq)
Sotheby’s london, 17 May 1968, lot 25
cOMPArATiVE liTErATUrE
A similar clock conceived around the same porcelain group, signed Gallois à Paris, is illustrated
in r. Baarsen, Paris 1650-1900: Decorative Arts in the Rijksmuseum, new Haven, 2013, pp. 206-
207, no. 49
45
VASE PrOBABlY iTAliAn lATE 17TH cEnTUrY, THE
MOUnTS circA 1780
Height: 41.5 cm. (16 ¼ in.) Width: 27 cm. (10 ½ in.)
This sumptuous vase perfectly illustrates the passion for collecting rare marbles and precious
stones in Parisian society in the 18th century. Stones were imported from italy where they
were often re-worked in Parisian ateliers and then given rich gilt bronze mounts to fit the taste
of the day.
The most important collector of this kind was the duc d’Aumont (1709-1782), who amassed an
enormous collection of hard stones, many of with specially commissioned mounts by the
master bronzier, Pierre Gouthière. The garlands on this vase have close similarities with gilt
bronzes on a pair of hardstone vases supplied by Gouthière to the Duke, illustrated in c.
Vignon and c. Baulez, Pierre Gouthière, Virtuoso Gilder at the French Court, new York, 2016, pp.
184-185.
Other pietra dura vases in the louvre and in the Wallace collection have very similar cloven
feet as well as another marble example sold Sotheby’s Monaco, 7 February 1982, lot 360.
The cover is a modern replacement
A lOUiS XV GilT AnD PAinTED BrOnzE AnD MEiSSEn
POrcElAin COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE clOcK - circA 1750
The dial signed Benoist Gérard à Paris, the movement signed Benoist Gérard à Paris N°535
The Meissen porcelain 18th century, the figures of Pantaleone and columbine modelled by
Johann Joachim Kändler
Height: 59 cm. (23 ¼ in.) Width: 41 cm. (16 ¼ in.) Width at base: 38 cm. (15 in.) Depth at
base: 21.5 cm. (8 ½ in.)
PrOVEnAncE
collection of M. Dreyfus de Gonzales, sale Paris, 8 June 1896, lot 222 (7,600 francs to M. de
clercq)
Sotheby’s london, 17 May 1968, lot 25
cOMPArATiVE liTErATUrE
A similar clock conceived around the same porcelain group, signed Gallois à Paris, is illustrated
in r. Baarsen, Paris 1650-1900: Decorative Arts in the Rijksmuseum, new Haven, 2013, pp. 206-
207, no. 49
45
