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Lot Essay
This charming and ingenious sunflower clock serves a double purpose, functioning as a clock and as an inkwell. A watercolour depicting a virtually identical clock is illustrated in C. Plante and R. Garnier, Designs for Gilt Bronze Objects from the French Restoration 1814-1830, London, 2002, p.68, pl.52. An identical example was sold, Christie's, New York, 21 May 1997, lot 505 ($13,800), and a further example, lot 509 ($55,200). Other clocks of the same distinctive sunflower design were sold, from the collection of Countess Donina Cicogna-Mozzoni, Christie's, New York, 30 March 1995, lot 95, and from the collection of Mrs. Robert Tritton, Godmersham Park, Christie's House Sale, 6-9 June 1983, lot 283.
This clock-cum-inkwell is also related to a sunflower clock, offered Christie's, London, 3 December 2004, lot 128, and in the same naturalistic fashion, to a clock with a hortensia (or 'hydrangea'), symbolic of Hortense de Beauharnais, sold, Christie's, London, 7 December 2006, lot 4.
This clock-cum-inkwell is also related to a sunflower clock, offered Christie's, London, 3 December 2004, lot 128, and in the same naturalistic fashion, to a clock with a hortensia (or 'hydrangea'), symbolic of Hortense de Beauharnais, sold, Christie's, London, 7 December 2006, lot 4.