THE CASE BY GUERHARD & DIHL, THE MOVEMENT BY JEAN-NICOLAS SCHMIT

Details

A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU-MOUNTED BISCUIT AND GLAZED PORCELAIN MANTEL CLOCK
The case by Guerhard & Dihl, the movement by Jean-Nicolas Schmit
The circular white-enamelled Arabic dial signed 'Schmit a Paris', within a drum case among clouds, surmounted by a winged putto writing on a slate and leaning against a pedestal, flanked to either side by a lyre with an Apollo mask, on a pink and grisaille-painted panelled rectangular base with incurved corners, the panels decorated with scrolling foliage and centred by a plaque inscribed 'Mr de Guerhard et Dihl à Paris', on engine-turned feet, the wings restored
19¾ in. (50 cm.) high; 14½ in. (37 cm.) wide; 5½ in. (14 cm.) deep

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The Duc d'Angoulême porcelain factory was established by the partners Guerhard and Dihl in 1780 under the protection of the duc d'Angoulême, son of the Comte d'Artois. Recorded in the Rue Bondy (or rue du Temple), they specialised in the production of extremely fine quality biscuit and hard-paste porcelain, as well as jasper plaques in imitation of Wedgwood. They were extensively patronised by the Garde-Meuble, supplying clock cases ranging from 200 to 6000 L. The porcelain manufactory collaborated frequently with Jean-Nicolas Schmit, maître horloger in 1781, who supplied the movements. A related clock, again with a movement by Schmit, was sold from the collection of J.H. Thursby, at Sotheby's London, 17 May 1968, lot 16.

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