Antique French Empire neo-classical clock in ormolu and patinated bronze celebrating Poseidon or neptunus the God of the sea and of Rivers and Lakes.
The case surmounted by a sea shell overflowing with water, below and to each side urn finials also running with water. Below the shell an ormolu mount of two swans drinking from a fountain.
Further applied ormolu mounts abound that are trophies of Poseidon such as dolphins crossed with tridents, ewers, bull rushes, seahorses, and to the sides of the clock seaweed be-decked shells and large mounts with paddles, tridents, ewers and anchors entwined, below this a fine bath.classical
Poseden himself sits below the dial in a pose remeniscent of Boizot's design ( see below ), pouring water from an urn ( La source) into a fountain.
The clock stands upon four substantial bun feet.
The dial is of convex white porcelain with Roman hour chapters and Arabic quarter hour marks and is signed "A Paris " above six. The finely chased gilt bronze hands have a representation of the business end of the Trident at the hand boss.
The 8 day movement is exactly right for the period with flat bottomed plates, silk suspension and countwheel striking the hours and halves on a fine cast bell.
Original pendulum.
18 inches high by 10 inches wide and 5 inches deep ( 45 cm by 25 cm by 12.5 cm).
A similar figure to this was used for a river god in the Avignon clock dated 1771 by Boizot and Gouthiere.
This clock was sold in Paris by Christies Sale 1058 the Palais Abbatial de Royaumont - Exposition au Palais Abbatial de Royaumont - Vente chez Christie's
19 - 21 September 2011
Paris Lot number 550 where it made 11,875 Euros or £9,900.00 sterling.
Stock Number: 5014
Price: SOLD
Availability: SOLD
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