A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK

CIRCA 1780, SIGNED MEYER A PARIS, AFTER A DESIGN BY FRANÇOIS VION

Details

A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK
Circa 1780, signed Meyer A PARIS, after a design by François Vion
The circular white enamelled dial face with Arabic and Roman chapter ring, with pierced strapwork gilt-metal minute and hour hand, signed Meyer/A PARIS, within a convex glazed bezel with leaf-tip cast surround and barrel-form housing, the stepped case with beaded cornice, surmounted by a dove and laurel sprig, flanked by a woman outstretched to a putti holding a dove, on a stepped rectangular base with bead and laurel surround, the frieze centered by a torch and bundle of arrows, over a swag, on hairy paw feet, inscribed 2514 950V187 to the movement, and signed Meyer A Paris on the movement
12½in. (31cm.) high, 9in (23cm.) wide, 4½in. (11cm.) deep

Lot Essay

François Meyer, maître in 1776

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 et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, 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.

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