Lot Essay
Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain, maître in 1735.
Charles Le Roy, maître horloger in 1733.
Inspired by Kakiemon porcelain models of elephants, such as that at Burghley House, Lincolnshire ('Porcelain from Palaces', Exhibition Catalogue, British Museum, 6 July-4 November 1990, p.178, no.160), which were susequently copied at the St. Cloud manufactory, St. Germain's design enjoyed enduring popularity in the mid-18th Century. Thus, while clocks of this form are known to have been in existence by 1745-9, testified to by the 'pendule au singe' stamped with the C couronné poinçon (sold anonymously in these Rooms, 10 June 1993, lot 9,£80,700), as late as 15 December 1757, Madame de Montmartel acquired a clock of this identical model from the marchand-mercier Lazare Duvaux. Described as 'Une pendule en bronze doré d'ormoulu, dont le mouvement à sonnerie, de Moisy, est porté sur un éléphant', it cost 660 livres.
Two clocks of identical design signed by Saint-Germain are recorded:- one is in the Residenz, Munich (illustrated in H.Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p.123, fig.2.8.3.), while the other, with movement by Jean-Baptiste du Tertre, was sold anonymously at Christie's New York, 1 January 1990, lot 64.
Charles Le Roy, maître horloger in 1733.
Inspired by Kakiemon porcelain models of elephants, such as that at Burghley House, Lincolnshire ('Porcelain from Palaces', Exhibition Catalogue, British Museum, 6 July-4 November 1990, p.178, no.160), which were susequently copied at the St. Cloud manufactory, St. Germain's design enjoyed enduring popularity in the mid-18th Century. Thus, while clocks of this form are known to have been in existence by 1745-9, testified to by the 'pendule au singe' stamped with the C couronné poinçon (sold anonymously in these Rooms, 10 June 1993, lot 9,£80,700), as late as 15 December 1757, Madame de Montmartel acquired a clock of this identical model from the marchand-mercier Lazare Duvaux. Described as 'Une pendule en bronze doré d'ormoulu, dont le mouvement à sonnerie, de Moisy, est porté sur un éléphant', it cost 660 livres.
Two clocks of identical design signed by Saint-Germain are recorded:- one is in the Residenz, Munich (illustrated in H.Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p.123, fig.2.8.3.), while the other, with movement by Jean-Baptiste du Tertre, was sold anonymously at Christie's New York, 1 January 1990, lot 64.