a regence ormolu-mounted ameranth and parquetry longcase clock

Details

a regence ormolu-mounted ameranth and parquetry longcase clock
The enamel-set dial with roman chapters signed Etienne le Noir à Paris and cast with shells and foliage, within a shaped case flanked by C-scrolls and rockwork and surmounted by a channelled C-scroll mount centred by an acanthus spray and pendant husks-trails, above a shaped door inlaid with a star and above a quatrefoil looking-glass framed by C-scrolls and rockwork, on a spreading base inlaid with a star and on a moulded canted rectangular plinth, the movement signed Etienne le Noir à Paris, restorations
208cm. high

Lot Essay

Etienne Le Noir (1698-after 1778), maître in 1717, and his son Pierre-Etienne Le Noir (1724-after 1791), maître in 1743.
Etienne Le Noir was based at the Quai des Orfèvres and was joined by his son Etienne-Pierre in 1743, both using the signature 'Etienne Le Noir' or 'Etienne Le Noir à Paris'. The workshop provided movements to the marchand-mercier Lazare Duvaux, who had them mounted in jewelled cases. One of Duvaux' most important clients was Mme de Pompadour who, in 1750, purchased an ormolu mantel clock by Le Noir in 1750 for the astronomical sum of 1080L, which was presented to the Princesse de Naples.

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