.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Joseph de Saint-Germain, maître in 1750.
Beautifully sculpted, this clock belongs to a group of so-called ménagerie clocks which are one of the most creative expressions of 18th century French rococo. The models ranged from wild boars to bulls, but the elephant was the most popular (for the large variety of these see E. Niehüser, French Bronze Clocks: 1700-1830, Atglen, 1999, pp. 238-240). The 1686 visit of the envoy of the King of Siam to the court of Louis XIV, and the establishment of the ménagerie at Versailles, are often linked with introducing the elephant into the decorative arts. The first of these pendules à l'éléphant is attributed to Jacques Caffieri. This model is attributed to Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain (1717-1791) whose stamp appears on several examples. Elected maître-fondeur on 15 July 1748, Saint-Germain frequently supplied cases cast with animals and allegorical figures to the leading clockmakers of Paris, le Roy, Lenoir and Gosselin. The quality of chasing and modelling of Saint-Germain's animals and foliate decorated shows his understanding of the natural world. He not only had a substantial library but also owned an amazing cabinet de curiosités to satisfy his interests in the natural sciences, particularly botany and mineralogy (J.-D. Augarde, "Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain. Inédits sur sa vie et son oeuvre", L'Estampille - l'Objet d'Art, December, 1996, pp. 63-82).
Inspired by Kakiemon porcelain models of elephants ('Porcelain from Palaces', Exhibition Catalogue, British Museum, 6 July-4 November 1990, p.178, no.160), which were subsequently copied at the St. Cloud manufactory, St. Germain's designs enjoyed enduring popularity in the mid-18th century.
Pierre-Philippe Barat is first recorded in the Place Dauphine in 1748-51, before subsequently moving to the quai des Orfèvres.
Beautifully sculpted, this clock belongs to a group of so-called ménagerie clocks which are one of the most creative expressions of 18th century French rococo. The models ranged from wild boars to bulls, but the elephant was the most popular (for the large variety of these see E. Niehüser, French Bronze Clocks: 1700-1830, Atglen, 1999, pp. 238-240). The 1686 visit of the envoy of the King of Siam to the court of Louis XIV, and the establishment of the ménagerie at Versailles, are often linked with introducing the elephant into the decorative arts. The first of these pendules à l'éléphant is attributed to Jacques Caffieri. This model is attributed to Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain (1717-1791) whose stamp appears on several examples. Elected maître-fondeur on 15 July 1748, Saint-Germain frequently supplied cases cast with animals and allegorical figures to the leading clockmakers of Paris, le Roy, Lenoir and Gosselin. The quality of chasing and modelling of Saint-Germain's animals and foliate decorated shows his understanding of the natural world. He not only had a substantial library but also owned an amazing cabinet de curiosités to satisfy his interests in the natural sciences, particularly botany and mineralogy (J.-D. Augarde, "Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain. Inédits sur sa vie et son oeuvre", L'Estampille - l'Objet d'Art, December, 1996, pp. 63-82).
Inspired by Kakiemon porcelain models of elephants ('Porcelain from Palaces', Exhibition Catalogue, British Museum, 6 July-4 November 1990, p.178, no.160), which were subsequently copied at the St. Cloud manufactory, St. Germain's designs enjoyed enduring popularity in the mid-18th century.
Pierre-Philippe Barat is first recorded in the Place Dauphine in 1748-51, before subsequently moving to the quai des Orfèvres.