Lot 30
30
A RUSSIAN ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE CLOCK
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A RUSSIAN ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE CLOCK

CIRCA 1800

Details
A RUSSIAN ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE CLOCK
CIRCA 1800
The twin barrels movement with verge escapement and rear-mounted rack strike for the hours and the quarters on two bells; later pendulum, the circular white-enamelled dial within a shield-shaped case surmounted by a helmet finial, flanked and supported by winged dragons, on a concave-sided sycamore plinth centred by a relief-cast medallion, on claw feet, the reverse inscribed in ink '1547 Jim(?)' and with restorer's scratch marks
15¼ in. (39 cm.) high; 13 in. (33 cm.) wide; 7 in. (18 cm.) deep
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

With its winged dragons supporting shield-shaped drum and concave plinth resting on naturalistic paw feet, the design of this highly unusual clock is apparently unique. The audacious combination of these and other ormolu elements suggests a specific commission carried out by one of St. Petersburg's most talented bronzier. The most capable artists producing luxurious gilt-bronze items were Friedrich Bergenfeldt (1768-1822) and Andrei Schreiber (1777-1843), and both supplied many ornamental bronze items to the Imperial Court (I. Sychev, Russian Bronze, Moscow, 2003, pp. 94) Obviously, many designs for bronzes were supplied to them by architects working on projects for the Emperor and his Court, and Andrei Voronikhin is particularly noteworthy as he produced various designs for items with winged creatures similar to the dragons on the present clock. They are particularly close to those on a design for a vase executed by him in 1801 which is illustrated in ibid.p. 91.

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