A Napoleon III ormolu-mounted verde antico marble urn-shaped orbit clock

BY MAISON MILLET, PARIS, CIRCA 1860

Details

A Napoleon III ormolu-mounted verde antico marble urn-shaped orbit clock
By Maison Millet, Paris, Circa 1860
The domed cover with pomegranate finial, the waisted neck with twin rotating hour and minute dials, the twin-train movement with count-wheel strike and dead beat escapement with pendulum, stamped GML/490/4-8, the tapering body cast with bulrushes and mounted to one side with a trident-bearing winged triton and to the other with a winged nereid with spear, the spreading water-cast foot with a large fish, the square base inscribed Millet à Paris
28in. (71cm.) high; 9in. (22.8cm.) square at base

Provenance

Marshall P. Slade, sold Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York, September 26, 1947, lot 628.

Lot Essay

Established by T. Millet in 1853, the Maison Millet operated until 1902 from premises at 11, rue Jacques-Coeur, Paris, before relocating at 23, boulevard Beaumarchais. Specialising in 'meubles et bronzes d'art, genre ancien et moderne', with the accent on Louis XVI antecedents, Maison Millet was awarded medals at many of the late 19th century Universal Exhibitions and, in 1902, was authorised by the directeur of the Palais de Versailles to replicate Marie-Antoinette's celebrated Grand cabinet à bijoux. An auction of the firm's inventory was held in 1906 and they finally ceased trading in 1918.

Unsigned examples of this model clock were sold in these rooms, October 27 1998, lot 289 and at Christie's London, October 28 1998, lot 75.

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