Page 76 - catalogue 2019
P. 76
ouiS XVi gilT Bronze AnD enAMelleD SKeleTon clocK –
circA 1785
Polychrome, blue and gold enamel, and white marble
Signed gavelle l’Aîné à Paris on an enamelled plaque
Height: 45.5 cm. (18 in.) Width: 28.2 cm. (11 in.) Depth: 13.5 cm. (5 ¼ in.)
The enamelled dial indicates the hours and minutes in Arabic numerals with pierced and engraved gilt brass
hands. The circular movement has a recoil anchor escapement and silk thread-suspended sun pendulum and
chimes the hours and half-hours by means of a count-wheel mounted on the back-plate.
ProVenAnce
Sold couturier nicolay, Hôtel Drouot, 16 December 1981, lot 45
coMPArATiVe liTerATure
A clock of identical form, the eagle replaced by a palmette, is reproduced in Partridge Summer Exhibition 1990,
london, Partridge Fine Arts Plc, 1990, cover illustration and no. 40.
Pierre gavelle, called gavelle l’Aîné (1753-1802, maître on 4 septembre 1771)
A DirecTorY gilT Bronze AnD enAMelleD SKeleTon clocK –
circA 1795-1799
Turquoise and midnight blue enamel over gold foil and pearls, and red griotte marble
Signed Bourdier on an enamelled plaque
Height: 46 cm. (18 in.) Width: 27.8 cm. (11 in.) Depth: 12.4 cm. (4 ¾ in.)
The enamelled dial indicates the hours in roman numerals and the quarter-hours and date in and Arabic
numerals with Breguet blued steel hands. The circular movement has a pin wheel escapement and silk thread-
suspended pendulum decorated with two butterflies and chimes the hours and half-hours by means of a
count-wheel mounted on the back-plate.
coMPArATiVe liTerATure
A clock of identical form enamelled in turquoise blue is reproduced in Partridge Summer Exhibition 1990,
london, Partridge Fine Arts Plc, 1990, cover illustration and no. 40.
Jean-Simon Bourdier (maître on 22 September 1787)
one of the most ingenious clockmakers, and the best constructor of musical elements of his time, Bourdier’s
most remarkable works are preserved in the Spanish royal collections in Madrid and Aranjuez (see Jean-
Dominique Augarde, Les Ouvriers du Temps, editions Antiquorum, 1996, p. 285).
A PAir louiS XVi gilT Bronze-MounTeD PAriS
PorcelAin VASES A MONTER – circA 1780-1785
The hard paste porcelain, 18th Century
Height: 33 cm. (13 in.) Width: 13 cm. (5 in.)
ProVenAnce
galerie Perrin, Paris, 1972
coMPArATiVe liTerATure
A garniture of three vases with identical gilt bronze handles delivered to Queen Marie-Antoinette
between 1774 and 1776 formed part of the collection of M. and Mme riahi, sold christie’s new
York, 2 november 2000, lot 30.
66
circA 1785
Polychrome, blue and gold enamel, and white marble
Signed gavelle l’Aîné à Paris on an enamelled plaque
Height: 45.5 cm. (18 in.) Width: 28.2 cm. (11 in.) Depth: 13.5 cm. (5 ¼ in.)
The enamelled dial indicates the hours and minutes in Arabic numerals with pierced and engraved gilt brass
hands. The circular movement has a recoil anchor escapement and silk thread-suspended sun pendulum and
chimes the hours and half-hours by means of a count-wheel mounted on the back-plate.
ProVenAnce
Sold couturier nicolay, Hôtel Drouot, 16 December 1981, lot 45
coMPArATiVe liTerATure
A clock of identical form, the eagle replaced by a palmette, is reproduced in Partridge Summer Exhibition 1990,
london, Partridge Fine Arts Plc, 1990, cover illustration and no. 40.
Pierre gavelle, called gavelle l’Aîné (1753-1802, maître on 4 septembre 1771)
A DirecTorY gilT Bronze AnD enAMelleD SKeleTon clocK –
circA 1795-1799
Turquoise and midnight blue enamel over gold foil and pearls, and red griotte marble
Signed Bourdier on an enamelled plaque
Height: 46 cm. (18 in.) Width: 27.8 cm. (11 in.) Depth: 12.4 cm. (4 ¾ in.)
The enamelled dial indicates the hours in roman numerals and the quarter-hours and date in and Arabic
numerals with Breguet blued steel hands. The circular movement has a pin wheel escapement and silk thread-
suspended pendulum decorated with two butterflies and chimes the hours and half-hours by means of a
count-wheel mounted on the back-plate.
coMPArATiVe liTerATure
A clock of identical form enamelled in turquoise blue is reproduced in Partridge Summer Exhibition 1990,
london, Partridge Fine Arts Plc, 1990, cover illustration and no. 40.
Jean-Simon Bourdier (maître on 22 September 1787)
one of the most ingenious clockmakers, and the best constructor of musical elements of his time, Bourdier’s
most remarkable works are preserved in the Spanish royal collections in Madrid and Aranjuez (see Jean-
Dominique Augarde, Les Ouvriers du Temps, editions Antiquorum, 1996, p. 285).
A PAir louiS XVi gilT Bronze-MounTeD PAriS
PorcelAin VASES A MONTER – circA 1780-1785
The hard paste porcelain, 18th Century
Height: 33 cm. (13 in.) Width: 13 cm. (5 in.)
ProVenAnce
galerie Perrin, Paris, 1972
coMPArATiVe liTerATure
A garniture of three vases with identical gilt bronze handles delivered to Queen Marie-Antoinette
between 1774 and 1776 formed part of the collection of M. and Mme riahi, sold christie’s new
York, 2 november 2000, lot 30.
66
