BY RADIGUET & FILS, PARIS, CIRCA 1770

細節

A LOUIS XV/LOUIS XVI GILTWOOD BAROMETER/THERMOMETER
By Radiguet & Fils, Paris, circa 1770
The circular white-painted wooden dial inscribed in ink Radiguet & Fils Opticiens/Boulevar des Filles du Calvaire 15.à Paris and with the climes indicated by a center-sweeping blued-steel hand and a replaced gilt-metal stay-hand, within a berried laurel wreath surround, a thermometer above and below, each inscribed Thermomètre/de Mr. de Réaumur and with dates and cities indicated for lowest and highest temperatures recorded, each within a beaded surround, the whole with beaded surround and surmounted by flanking down-turned spilling flower-filled cornucopia issuing berried laurel leaf garlands
47½in. (120.5cm.) high, 20½in. (52cm) wide

拍品專文

Although still tinged with the mass of the goût grec, the carving of this baromètre/thermomètre is of the highest quality, ranking with that normally seen on seat furniture, firescreens, and picture and mirror frames of the period. It was, afterall, the same menuisier-sculpteurs that made all of these items. The fineness of the carving and the superb interplay of the matte and burnished surfaces of the gilding were intended to imitate the qualities of ormolu, increasingly prized during the 18th century and reaching its highest levels of quality and price by the Révolution.