Lot 32
32
A GEORGE III ORMOLU AND MARBLE TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK
A GEORGE III ORMOLU AND MARBLE TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK
A GEORGE III ORMOLU AND MARBLE TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK
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A GEORGE III ORMOLU AND MARBLE TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK
8 More
THE MATTHEW BOULTON VENUS VASE CLOCKTHE PROPERTY OF A NOBLEMAN
A GEORGE III ORMOLU AND MARBLE TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK

MATTHEW BOULTON AND JOHN FOTHERGILL, SOHO, BIRMINGHAM, THE MOVEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN WHITEHURST, DERBY, CIRCA 1771

Details
A GEORGE III ORMOLU AND MARBLE TIMEPIECE TABLE CLOCK
MATTHEW BOULTON AND JOHN FOTHERGILL, SOHO, BIRMINGHAM, THE MOVEMENT ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN WHITEHURST, DERBY, CIRCA 1771
Modelled as a vase, the body engraved with a ribbon-tied laurel medallion centred by an inscription in Greek to Adonis, 'Αϊ Αϊ / Ταύ Κυθέρϵιαν /Απώλϵτο /Καλοṡ Ἀδωνιs' above a foliate clasped spiral-fluted socle and rectangular white marble pedestal with medallion and drapery swags, flanked by figures of Venus and Cupid with a pair of doves, on a stepped Siena marble plinth (probably later) inset with a horizontal timepiece movement, silvered Roman hour and Arabic minute chapter rings, with large cylinder escapement and balance wheel
11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm.) high; 6 3/4 in. (17.2 cm.) wide; 6 3/4 in. (17.2 cm.) deep
Provenance
George Innes-Ker, 9th Duke of Roxburghe, formerly at 2 Carlton House Terrace, London;
Christie's, London, 31 May 1956, lot 57.
L.A. Hart, Esq.
with Partridge Fine Arts, London, 1992.
Dr. Horace Wood Brock Collection, Massachusetts, USA.
with Mallett, London, 2000;
Private Collection, U.K.
Literature
N. Goodison, ‘Matthew Boulton’s Allegorical Clocks’, Connoisseur, February 1973, pp. 106-111.
N. Goodison, Ormolu: The Work of Matthew Boulton, London, 1974, p. 127 and p. 308, plate 44.
Partridge Fine Arts, Recent Acquisitions, London, 1992, cover and pp. 26-7, No. 9.
Mallett, The Age of Matthew Boulton, London, 2000, pp. 48-49.
N. Goodison, Matthew Boulton: Ormolu, London, 2002, pp. 236-240 and fig. 191.

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Lot Essay


The partnership of Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) and John Fothergill (1730–1782) produced ormolu ornaments at their Soho manufactory, Birmingham, between 1768 and 1780.

Thomas Pownall M.P. (1722-1805) suggested to Boulton in 1769 that he might consider making clock cases, following the French taste. He first produced the King’s Clock (Royal Collection, RCIN 30028) in collaboration with William Chambers (1723-1796), then other celebrated grand designs such as the Sidereal Clock (Soho House, Birmingham) and the Geographical Clock (Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, loan AAL6-2022).

This Venus clock case shows Boulton’s enthusiasm for the Antique taste whilst the composition was most likely influenced from an engraving by Simon François Ravenet A.R.A. (1706 - 1774). The vase clock together with the perfume burner of the same design was one of the most popular produced by the Soho firm in the 1770’s but apparently no other clocks survive. Three clocks of this design were offered at their Christie's auction in 1771 (11-12 April 1771; lot 85 day one; lot 68 day two; and lot 81 day three). The horizontally mounted clock movement, as with the majority of Boulton’s clocks, was almost certainly produced by his fellow Lunar Society member John Whitehurst F.R.S. (1713-1788).

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