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Lot Essay
The Egyptian-style clock comprises an 'altar' of sloped 'pylon' form in marble-figured yew, and a Grecian ormolu pediment festooned with fruit garlands draped from bacchic-masked acroteria. It stands on a yew plinth with palm-flowered lion monopodia. On either side are ormolu plinth-supported 'cippus' altars bearing canopic jars that are attended by kneeling bronze Naophori priestesses.
A related marble 'pylon' clock with a bronze figure of Apollo was acquired in 1803 for Carlton House, London, by George, Prince of Wales, later George IV and purchased from Martin-Eloi Lignereux, who traded in partnership with the celebrated fondeur-ciseleur Pierre-Philippe Thomire (d. 1843) as 'marchands de dorure et meubles' in the rue Taitbout, Paris. Their showroom was visited in that year by Mme de Cazenove d'Arlens, who described it as 'le beau magasin de meubles de lignereux. C'est une reunion de choses du meilleur gout: des pendules delicieuses... des garnitures de salon...' (H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, fig. 5.5.4, p. 342 and R. Garnier, 'Clocks in the Royal Collection, From commissioning to collecting', Apollo, September 1993, p. 94). No doubt, the latter clock was originally fitted with a movement by Charles-Guillaume Manière (d. 1810). Manière also signed 'Apollo' clocks that Lignereux supplied to Sir Henry Fetherstonhaugh (d. 1846) of Seamore Place, London and Uppark, Hampshire, and to Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford (d. 1825) (see Patronage Preserved, Christie's King Street Exhibition, 3-20 January 1991, pp. 69-70, no. 48).
A related marble 'pylon' clock with a bronze figure of Apollo was acquired in 1803 for Carlton House, London, by George, Prince of Wales, later George IV and purchased from Martin-Eloi Lignereux, who traded in partnership with the celebrated fondeur-ciseleur Pierre-Philippe Thomire (d. 1843) as 'marchands de dorure et meubles' in the rue Taitbout, Paris. Their showroom was visited in that year by Mme de Cazenove d'Arlens, who described it as 'le beau magasin de meubles de lignereux. C'est une reunion de choses du meilleur gout: des pendules delicieuses... des garnitures de salon...' (H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, fig. 5.5.4, p. 342 and R. Garnier, 'Clocks in the Royal Collection, From commissioning to collecting', Apollo, September 1993, p. 94). No doubt, the latter clock was originally fitted with a movement by Charles-Guillaume Manière (d. 1810). Manière also signed 'Apollo' clocks that Lignereux supplied to Sir Henry Fetherstonhaugh (d. 1846) of Seamore Place, London and Uppark, Hampshire, and to Orlando Bridgeman, 1st Earl of Bradford (d. 1825) (see Patronage Preserved, Christie's King Street Exhibition, 3-20 January 1991, pp. 69-70, no. 48).