Various Properties
A TRANSITIONAL ORMOLU CARTEL CLOCK

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A TRANSITIONAL ORMOLU CARTEL CLOCK

The circular glazed dial with both Roman and Arabic numerals, signed Martinot A PARIS, the domed drum with entrelac, husk-trails and acanthus scrolls surmounted by a concave-angled shaped rectangular plinth surmounted by a beaded laurel-cast part-fluted urn with reeded scroll handles, flanked by ribbon-tied laurel-swags meeting at the base around a patera, the pierced case with foliate-panelled sides, above a scrolled acanthus berried boss, the movement signed to the reverse Martinot AParis
32¾in. x 16in. (85cm. x 41cm.)

Lot Essay

Claude II Martinot, valet de Chambre Horloger du Roi, flourished until circa 1768

Designed in the 'goût Grec', this cartel relates to the designs of the celebrated bronzier Robert Osmond, appointed fils de maître in 1746, as well as to the right hand section of a cartel design by Jean-Charles Delafosse at Waddesdon Manor (illustrated in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et.al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, p. 192, fig. 3.8.2). An extremely closely related cartel clock, although lacking the base of the urn, was sold anonymously at Sotheby's Monaco, 3 July 1993, lot 154. Two further similar clocks are recorded - one, with a movement by Ferdinand Berthoud, is illustrated in Tardy, La Pendule Francaise, Paris, 1969, 3ème edition, p. 310, while the other, the movement by Jean-Baptiste de Tertre II, was sold anonymously at Christie's New York, 25 October 1991, lot 104

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