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Lot Essay
Other examples of this popular model sold at auction include the following. In white marble: the Wildenstein collection, Christie's London, 14 December 2005, lot 18 (£28,800); the Partridge collection, Christie's New York, 17 May 2006, lot 27 ($38,400). In red marble: Christie's London, 14 December 2000, lot 198 (£28,200). In black marble, Sotheby's London, 12 June 2002, lot 395 (£19,120). A smaller version with white marble sold Christie's London, 29 April 2010, lot 134 (£27,500).
This clock, entitled L'Étude et la Philosophie was an enormously successful and popular model in the late 18th Century. It derives from a drawing in a catalogue produced by François Rémond, circa 1785, which incorporates figures designed and supplied to the Sèvres factory for reproduction in biscuit porcelain by the sculptor Simon-Louis Boizot. Rémond was one of the most celebrated ciseleurs-doreurs during the reign of Louis XVI and counted amongst his distinguished clientele the comte d'Artois and the princesse Kinsky. Between February 1784 and October 1787, Rémond sold at least thirty-two versions of this model to Dominique Daguerre (Augarde, p. 175). In 1788 Daguerre delivered three of these clocks, with movements by Sotiau, to Louis XVI at the château de Saint-Cloud.
Three virtually identical clocks are in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. One with a movement by Lépine is illustrated in J. Harris, G. de Bellaigue and O. Millar, Buckingham Palace, New York, 1968, p. 165. The other two, both with movements by Sotiau, one with figures in patinated bronze and the other with figures in biscuit porcelain are illustrated in C. Jagger, Royal Clocks - The British Monarchy and its Timekeepers 1300 - 1900, London, 1983, pp. 154 - 155; of these, at least one was acquired by George, Prince of Wales for the East Ante Room at Carlton House, before being moved via Vulliamy to Windsor Castle in 1828 (H. Roberts, For The King's Pleasure, The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London, 2001, fig. 213). A fourth is at Versailles (H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 295, figs. 4.17.5 and 4.17.6.); a fifth is in the Quirinale Palace (A. Gonzlez-Palacios, Il Patrimonio artistico del Quirinale, Gli Arredi Francesi, Milan, 1996, p. 308).
The son of a merchant, Renacle-Nicolas Sotiau (1749-1791) was born in Liège. He became a mâitre horloger on 24 June 1782 and held the title of Horologer de Mgr le Dauphin (the first Dauphin, son of Louis XVI). J-D. Augarde (Les Ouvriers du Temps, Geneva, 1996, p. 397) records him as being one of the most famous clockmakers in Paris, collaborating with the marchands-merciers Darnault and Daguerre on commissions for illustrious clients such as Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Victoire and Adelaïde, daughters of Louis XV, the duc de Polignac and the Prince Regent, later George IV. He is known to have used clock cases by François Rémond and Pierre-Philippe Thomire.
ANGELA BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS
Angela Baroness Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906) was known as one of the great Victorian philanthropists. Granddaughter of the banker Thomas Coutts she inherited his fortune in 1837 and by Royal License, took his name to become Burdett-Coutts.
Widely regaled as the richest women in England she was a principal partner in Coutts & Co, Bankers. As well as helping to manage the bank she also spent much of her time, and the majority of her wealth, on scholarships, endowments and establishing and supporting many churches, schools and charities to help the poor, children and animals. She worked closely with the RSPCA and the NSPCC and was a prominent supporter of the British Horological Institute.
In recognition of her work, Queen Victoria in 1871 conferred a peerage on her under the title Baroness Burdett-Coutts of Highgate and Brookfield. And in 1872 she became the first woman to be given the Freedom of the cities of London and Edinburgh.
She died on 30 December 1906 of acute bronchitis. Her burial took place at Westminster Abbey on 5 January 1907 and was attended by a vast congregation.
This clock, entitled L'Étude et la Philosophie was an enormously successful and popular model in the late 18th Century. It derives from a drawing in a catalogue produced by François Rémond, circa 1785, which incorporates figures designed and supplied to the Sèvres factory for reproduction in biscuit porcelain by the sculptor Simon-Louis Boizot. Rémond was one of the most celebrated ciseleurs-doreurs during the reign of Louis XVI and counted amongst his distinguished clientele the comte d'Artois and the princesse Kinsky. Between February 1784 and October 1787, Rémond sold at least thirty-two versions of this model to Dominique Daguerre (Augarde, p. 175). In 1788 Daguerre delivered three of these clocks, with movements by Sotiau, to Louis XVI at the château de Saint-Cloud.
Three virtually identical clocks are in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. One with a movement by Lépine is illustrated in J. Harris, G. de Bellaigue and O. Millar, Buckingham Palace, New York, 1968, p. 165. The other two, both with movements by Sotiau, one with figures in patinated bronze and the other with figures in biscuit porcelain are illustrated in C. Jagger, Royal Clocks - The British Monarchy and its Timekeepers 1300 - 1900, London, 1983, pp. 154 - 155; of these, at least one was acquired by George, Prince of Wales for the East Ante Room at Carlton House, before being moved via Vulliamy to Windsor Castle in 1828 (H. Roberts, For The King's Pleasure, The Furnishing and Decoration of George IV's Apartments at Windsor Castle, London, 2001, fig. 213). A fourth is at Versailles (H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 295, figs. 4.17.5 and 4.17.6.); a fifth is in the Quirinale Palace (A. Gonzlez-Palacios, Il Patrimonio artistico del Quirinale, Gli Arredi Francesi, Milan, 1996, p. 308).
The son of a merchant, Renacle-Nicolas Sotiau (1749-1791) was born in Liège. He became a mâitre horloger on 24 June 1782 and held the title of Horologer de Mgr le Dauphin (the first Dauphin, son of Louis XVI). J-D. Augarde (Les Ouvriers du Temps, Geneva, 1996, p. 397) records him as being one of the most famous clockmakers in Paris, collaborating with the marchands-merciers Darnault and Daguerre on commissions for illustrious clients such as Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, Victoire and Adelaïde, daughters of Louis XV, the duc de Polignac and the Prince Regent, later George IV. He is known to have used clock cases by François Rémond and Pierre-Philippe Thomire.
ANGELA BARONESS BURDETT-COUTTS
Angela Baroness Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906) was known as one of the great Victorian philanthropists. Granddaughter of the banker Thomas Coutts she inherited his fortune in 1837 and by Royal License, took his name to become Burdett-Coutts.
Widely regaled as the richest women in England she was a principal partner in Coutts & Co, Bankers. As well as helping to manage the bank she also spent much of her time, and the majority of her wealth, on scholarships, endowments and establishing and supporting many churches, schools and charities to help the poor, children and animals. She worked closely with the RSPCA and the NSPCC and was a prominent supporter of the British Horological Institute.
In recognition of her work, Queen Victoria in 1871 conferred a peerage on her under the title Baroness Burdett-Coutts of Highgate and Brookfield. And in 1872 she became the first woman to be given the Freedom of the cities of London and Edinburgh.
She died on 30 December 1906 of acute bronchitis. Her burial took place at Westminster Abbey on 5 January 1907 and was attended by a vast congregation.