THE CASE BY ROBERT OSMOND OR JEAN-BAPTISTE OSMOND, PARIS; THE MOVEMENT BY GUIOT, PARIS, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Maître-fondeur en terre et sable in 1746 and appointed juré des fondeurs in 1756, bronzier Robert Osmond (1711-1789) was a pioneer of the neoclassical style in 1760s Paris. He worked with his nephew, Jean-Baptiste Osmond, maître in 1764, and the Osmonds produced 'pedestal' clocks in two versions: one, like the example offered here with a neo-grèc vase to the top and the other with billing doves. The latter model corresponds to a circa 1770 design in their Livre de desseins (Bibliothèque Doucet, Paris), no. 53 and priced at 198 livres. Other examples displaying the same design as the clock offered here include clocks at Petworth and the Royal Palace, Stockholm (Peter Hughes, 'French Fashion at Petworth', Apollo, September 2008, p. 63, pl. 5). See also H. Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, Munich, 1986, p. 194, fig. 3.12.3. Examples sold Christie's, Amsterdam, 19 September 2007, lot 324 (Euro 7,450 with premium) and Christie's, London, 4 June 1992, lot 41 (£4,180 with premium).

This clock was part of the esteemed collection of French furniture assembled by Adolphe Benedict Hayum Goldschmidt (1838-1918) of Frankfurt, Germany. Heir to the Goldschmidt family bank, Adolphe Goldschmidt moved to London in 1895 and purchased a large house in Mayfair and a 2500 acre estate, Cavenham Park, in Suffolk. His descendants, who later anglicized the name to Goldsmith, included his son, Frank Goldsmith (1878-1967), the conservative MP, and grandson, Sir James Goldsmith (1933-1997), financier, business tycoon, publisher and politician.