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Lot Essay
This clock can be attributed to the fondeur Pierre-François Feuchère (1737-1823), on the basis of his drawing of this clock model inscribed 'pendule de Psiché couronnant l'amour group modelé par feu Michalon'. The bronze figures of Cupid and Psyche are after a model by Claude Michallon (1751-1799). The model also appears in an engraving by J.F. de Moléon for the Paris Industrial Exhibition of 1819 (see H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol.I, p.390 and vol.II, p.669). A highly successful model, related examples are recored in the collections of both the French Ministries of the Marine and War, the Musée Marmottan, Brighton Pavillion, the Wittelsbach Foundation, Munich and the Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague.
Pierre-François Feuchère, sworn into the guild of ciseleurs-doreurs in 1767, was a member of a prominent family of gilders, who along with his father, supplied gilt-bronzes to various members of the Royal family. The family firm survived the Revolution and continued their successful business through the Empire and Restauration periods.
The figures of Cupid and Psyche were originally inspired by the famous antique marble statue, the 'Capitoline Kiss', of circa 200-150 B.C. (see E. Niehüser, French Bronze Clocks, 1700-1830, 1999, p.105.). This group was probably further popularized by Antonio Canova's adaptation of the same subject.
A very similar clock by Feuchère but with minor differences in the mounts was sold Galerie Koller Zurich, 2 November 1995, lot 4064; its clock face is enamelled and signed LESIEUR A PARIS. This same model, missing some mounts, is illustrated in P. Kjellberg, La Pendule Français, Paris, 1997, p.402. Another variation is in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, op. cit., p.350). In addition, two identical clocks, both originally attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, were sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 6 July 1984, lot 159 and Sotheby's London, 12 December 1986, lot 301.
Pierre-François Feuchère, sworn into the guild of ciseleurs-doreurs in 1767, was a member of a prominent family of gilders, who along with his father, supplied gilt-bronzes to various members of the Royal family. The family firm survived the Revolution and continued their successful business through the Empire and Restauration periods.
The figures of Cupid and Psyche were originally inspired by the famous antique marble statue, the 'Capitoline Kiss', of circa 200-150 B.C. (see E. Niehüser, French Bronze Clocks, 1700-1830, 1999, p.105.). This group was probably further popularized by Antonio Canova's adaptation of the same subject.
A very similar clock by Feuchère but with minor differences in the mounts was sold Galerie Koller Zurich, 2 November 1995, lot 4064; its clock face is enamelled and signed LESIEUR A PARIS. This same model, missing some mounts, is illustrated in P. Kjellberg, La Pendule Français, Paris, 1997, p.402. Another variation is in H. Ottomeyer and P. Pröschel, op. cit., p.350). In addition, two identical clocks, both originally attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, were sold anonymously at Sotheby's London, 6 July 1984, lot 159 and Sotheby's London, 12 December 1986, lot 301.