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A Louis XVI ormolu "pendule au cercles tournants", Joseph-Léonard Roque, Paris, circa 1775, the case
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Description
A Louis XVI ormolu "pendule au cercles tournants", Joseph-Léonard Roque, Paris, circa 1775, the case attributed to Marcel-François Noël
in the form of a boldly cast urn and cover with burnished and frosted gilding, the fluted top flanked by adorsed cockerels above enamel rings for hours and minutes, the reeded body with finely cast and chased fruiting vine swags, the base with further vine mounts, signed Roque A Paris and containing the movement, signed on the backplate as the case and punch numbered 154, with star-cut outside count wheel striking on a bell, later Brocot escapement and adjustable suspension, the plinth inset with amaranth above pierced friezes and rosettes to the concave corners
65cm. high x 29cm. wide; 25½in. x 11½in.
Catalogue note
This large and impressive urn clock is an extremely fine example of the combined arts of Parisian bronziers and clockmakers during the reign of Louis XVI. The unusually bold form of the case has been finely cast and chased with cockerels and vines in both religious and national symbolism. The frosted and burnished surfaces of the gilding accentuate and contrast the details to perfection.
Little is known of the early life of the clockmaker Joseph-Lèonard Roque but it is thought that he was trained by Alexis Magny, optician to Louis XV. He then worked for Claude Siméon Passemant at his workshops in the Palais du Louvre and it is thought that he was involved in the Creation of the World clock by Passemant. Following the death of Passemant in 1769, Roque set up on his own and was made a Master in 1770. Particularly known for his more complicated clocks, he specialised in 'pendule au cercles tournants' or clocks with revolving chapter rings as in the present example. He became Horologer du Roi and as well as supplying members of the French Royal family, he enjoyed the patronage of a wide section of French nobility.
Although the case is unsigned, a very similar urn clock with cockerels and fruiting vines but with a marble base is illustrated in Jean-Dominique Augarde, Les Ouvriers Du Temps, Geneva, 1996, where it states that a similar model was described in the caster/gilder Marcel-François Noël's shop on 22nd July 1778. The same clock is illustrated in colour in Pierre Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française, Paris, 1997, p.287, D.
Very few examples of this rare model have been recorded but a very similar example also signed by Roque was offered in the collection of Peter Jay Sharp, Sotheby's, New York, 13th January 1994, Lot 30. An unsigned clock, with the bronzes attributed to Marcel-François Noël, was offered by Christies, London, 12th December 2002, Lot 70.
Additional Notices & Disclaimers
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
in the form of a boldly cast urn and cover with burnished and frosted gilding, the fluted top flanked by adorsed cockerels above enamel rings for hours and minutes, the reeded body with finely cast and chased fruiting vine swags, the base with further vine mounts, signed Roque A Paris and containing the movement, signed on the backplate as the case and punch numbered 154, with star-cut outside count wheel striking on a bell, later Brocot escapement and adjustable suspension, the plinth inset with amaranth above pierced friezes and rosettes to the concave corners
65cm. high x 29cm. wide; 25½in. x 11½in.
Catalogue note
This large and impressive urn clock is an extremely fine example of the combined arts of Parisian bronziers and clockmakers during the reign of Louis XVI. The unusually bold form of the case has been finely cast and chased with cockerels and vines in both religious and national symbolism. The frosted and burnished surfaces of the gilding accentuate and contrast the details to perfection.
Little is known of the early life of the clockmaker Joseph-Lèonard Roque but it is thought that he was trained by Alexis Magny, optician to Louis XV. He then worked for Claude Siméon Passemant at his workshops in the Palais du Louvre and it is thought that he was involved in the Creation of the World clock by Passemant. Following the death of Passemant in 1769, Roque set up on his own and was made a Master in 1770. Particularly known for his more complicated clocks, he specialised in 'pendule au cercles tournants' or clocks with revolving chapter rings as in the present example. He became Horologer du Roi and as well as supplying members of the French Royal family, he enjoyed the patronage of a wide section of French nobility.
Although the case is unsigned, a very similar urn clock with cockerels and fruiting vines but with a marble base is illustrated in Jean-Dominique Augarde, Les Ouvriers Du Temps, Geneva, 1996, where it states that a similar model was described in the caster/gilder Marcel-François Noël's shop on 22nd July 1778. The same clock is illustrated in colour in Pierre Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française, Paris, 1997, p.287, D.
Very few examples of this rare model have been recorded but a very similar example also signed by Roque was offered in the collection of Peter Jay Sharp, Sotheby's, New York, 13th January 1994, Lot 30. An unsigned clock, with the bronzes attributed to Marcel-François Noël, was offered by Christies, London, 12th December 2002, Lot 70.
Additional Notices & Disclaimers
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
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A Louis XVI ormolu "pendule au cercles tournants", Joseph-Léonard Roque, Paris, circa 1775, the case attributed to Marcel-François Noël
in the form of a boldly cast urn and cover with burnished and frosted gilding, the fluted top flanked by adorsed cockerels above enamel rings for hours and minutes, the reeded body with finely cast and chased fruiting vine swags, the base with further vine mounts, signed Roque A Paris and containing the movement, signed on the backplate as the case and punch numbered 154, with star-cut outside count wheel striking on a bell, later Brocot escapement and adjustable suspension, the plinth inset with amaranth above pierced friezes and rosettes to the concave corners
65cm. high x 29cm. wide; 25½in. x 11½in.
Catalogue note
This large and impressive urn clock is an extremely fine example of the combined arts of Parisian bronziers and clockmakers during the reign of Louis XVI. The unusually bold form of the case has been finely cast and chased with cockerels and vines in both religious and national symbolism. The frosted and burnished surfaces of the gilding accentuate and contrast the details to perfection.
Little is known of the early life of the clockmaker Joseph-Lèonard Roque but it is thought that he was trained by Alexis Magny, optician to Louis XV. He then worked for Claude Siméon Passemant at his workshops in the Palais du Louvre and it is thought that he was involved in the Creation of the World clock by Passemant. Following the death of Passemant in 1769, Roque set up on his own and was made a Master in 1770. Particularly known for his more complicated clocks, he specialised in 'pendule au cercles tournants' or clocks with revolving chapter rings as in the present example. He became Horologer du Roi and as well as supplying members of the French Royal family, he enjoyed the patronage of a wide section of French nobility.
Although the case is unsigned, a very similar urn clock with cockerels and fruiting vines but with a marble base is illustrated in Jean-Dominique Augarde, Les Ouvriers Du Temps, Geneva, 1996, where it states that a similar model was described in the caster/gilder Marcel-François Noël's shop on 22nd July 1778. The same clock is illustrated in colour in Pierre Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française, Paris, 1997, p.287, D.
Very few examples of this rare model have been recorded but a very similar example also signed by Roque was offered in the collection of Peter Jay Sharp, Sotheby's, New York, 13th January 1994, Lot 30. An unsigned clock, with the bronzes attributed to Marcel-François Noël, was offered by Christies, London, 12th December 2002, Lot 70.
Additional Notices & Disclaimers
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
in the form of a boldly cast urn and cover with burnished and frosted gilding, the fluted top flanked by adorsed cockerels above enamel rings for hours and minutes, the reeded body with finely cast and chased fruiting vine swags, the base with further vine mounts, signed Roque A Paris and containing the movement, signed on the backplate as the case and punch numbered 154, with star-cut outside count wheel striking on a bell, later Brocot escapement and adjustable suspension, the plinth inset with amaranth above pierced friezes and rosettes to the concave corners
65cm. high x 29cm. wide; 25½in. x 11½in.
Catalogue note
This large and impressive urn clock is an extremely fine example of the combined arts of Parisian bronziers and clockmakers during the reign of Louis XVI. The unusually bold form of the case has been finely cast and chased with cockerels and vines in both religious and national symbolism. The frosted and burnished surfaces of the gilding accentuate and contrast the details to perfection.
Little is known of the early life of the clockmaker Joseph-Lèonard Roque but it is thought that he was trained by Alexis Magny, optician to Louis XV. He then worked for Claude Siméon Passemant at his workshops in the Palais du Louvre and it is thought that he was involved in the Creation of the World clock by Passemant. Following the death of Passemant in 1769, Roque set up on his own and was made a Master in 1770. Particularly known for his more complicated clocks, he specialised in 'pendule au cercles tournants' or clocks with revolving chapter rings as in the present example. He became Horologer du Roi and as well as supplying members of the French Royal family, he enjoyed the patronage of a wide section of French nobility.
Although the case is unsigned, a very similar urn clock with cockerels and fruiting vines but with a marble base is illustrated in Jean-Dominique Augarde, Les Ouvriers Du Temps, Geneva, 1996, where it states that a similar model was described in the caster/gilder Marcel-François Noël's shop on 22nd July 1778. The same clock is illustrated in colour in Pierre Kjellberg, Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française, Paris, 1997, p.287, D.
Very few examples of this rare model have been recorded but a very similar example also signed by Roque was offered in the collection of Peter Jay Sharp, Sotheby's, New York, 13th January 1994, Lot 30. An unsigned clock, with the bronzes attributed to Marcel-François Noël, was offered by Christies, London, 12th December 2002, Lot 70.
Additional Notices & Disclaimers
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
Classic Design: Furniture, Clocks, Silver & Ceramics
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