A FRENCH LOUIS XVI WHITE MARBLE AND ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK

A FRENCH LOUIS XVI WHITE MARBLE AND ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK

BY BARANCOURT, C.1785

the brass drum twin train movement with an outside countwheel striking on a bell, inscribed 'Barancourt a Paris', the three and three-quarter inch enamelled dial with pierced, scrolling hands, with Roman hour numerals and Arabic minute numerals, inscribed 'Barancourt a Paris', in a case flanked by Venus receiving a dove from Cupid, on a rectangular base with a band of fruiting stiff leaves, above a central torch and quiver of arrows and a swag, on hairy lion's paw feet and a rectangular plinth with a gilt beaded rim, with key and pendulum

35.2cm high, 26.5cm wide, 13.5cm deep

Provenance

Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918) Bedroom no.2, Halton House, Buckinghamshire

Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942)

Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009)

The Trustees of Exbury House

Literature

Rothschild Archive, London, Manuscript: 000/174/C/3, Christie, Manson & Woods Probate Valuation of 'The Estate of Alfred C. de Rothschild, Esq. C.V.O. Deceased, Halton House Tring'. 1918. Listed as 'A Louis XVI clock by Barancourt a Paris, in white marble case with ormolu figures of Venus and Cupid, £30.0.0.'

Catalogue Note

This clock is after the celebrated design by the fondeur François Vion, now in the Bibliothèque Doucet, Paris (VI E 15, Rés.fol.20/1). No.13 in the Livre de Desseins, the subject depicts 'La Douleur', although the flaming torch was replaced with a laurel sprig in execution. Referred to as 'Pleureusé' in contemporary auction catalogues, Vion charged 450 livres for the finished model. The design and a related clock are illustrated in H. Ottomeyer / P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Band I, p.247, figs.4.6.9 and 4.6.10, whilst a further clock of this model, originally in the collection of the Earls of Shaftesbury, St. Giles's House, Dorset, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 9 December 1993, lot 166.

Pierre Michel Barancourt became a Master Clockmaker in Paris in 1779.