Lot Essay
The design for a closely related clock appears as No. 17 in the Livre de desseins, where it is given to Pierre-Antoine Foullet, described as Cabinet d'Ebenisterie longue piece de table chinoise, and costing 144 livres for the gilt version) H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich 1986, vol. I, fig. 3.2.9).
A very similar clock with movement by Ridereau, the case stamped by Jean Goyer, traditionally thought to have belonged to the duc de Choiseul and sold in these Rooms, 23 June 1966, lot 40 is illustrated in S. Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London 1974, fig. 107.
The Goyer family specialised in clockcases and Jean Goyer (maître in 1760) and his father François (d. 1763) continued the tradition. Jean Goyer was the brother-in-law of René Dubois and they had close ties - their most celebrated collaboration was the monumental secretaire at Waddesdon (G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, London 1974, vol. I, no. 66). The series of clock cases of this model may well be the result of their collaboration.
A related clock was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 11 June 1992, lot 113, while a closely related mantel clock with a case by François Goyer was offered anonymously at Sotheby's Monaco, 7 February 1982, lot 374.
A very similar clock with movement by Ridereau, the case stamped by Jean Goyer, traditionally thought to have belonged to the duc de Choiseul and sold in these Rooms, 23 June 1966, lot 40 is illustrated in S. Eriksen, Early Neo-Classicism in France, London 1974, fig. 107.
The Goyer family specialised in clockcases and Jean Goyer (maître in 1760) and his father François (d. 1763) continued the tradition. Jean Goyer was the brother-in-law of René Dubois and they had close ties - their most celebrated collaboration was the monumental secretaire at Waddesdon (G. de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor, London 1974, vol. I, no. 66). The series of clock cases of this model may well be the result of their collaboration.
A related clock was sold anonymously in these Rooms, 11 June 1992, lot 113, while a closely related mantel clock with a case by François Goyer was offered anonymously at Sotheby's Monaco, 7 February 1982, lot 374.