.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present lot is a brilliant copy by the firm of Edmé Samson of an 18th century Nidervillers Pendule à cecles tounante. Its mark imitates that of the 1770-1793 Nidervillers period, during its ownership by Adam Philibert, comte de Custine. See F. Slitine, Samson, génie de l'imitation, Paris, 2002, pp. 195-199 for a detailed discussion.
For information on the 18th century prototype, see Tardy, La Pendule Française, 2eme Partie: Du Louis XVI à nos jours, Paris, 1975, p. 288, no. 6 for the 18th century example from Niderviller in the Musée Nissim de Camondo, Paris signed by Nicholas Arnould and painted with landscapes on a blue-ground and p. 289, pl. 1 for a white-ground example in the collection of G. Hudelot signed Garrigues Marseilles.
Other examples are recorded in the following collections: a private collector (M. Georges Blumenthal, Paris, 1 December 1932, Lot 493); Madame La Comtesse Chandon de Briailles (Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 8 May 1935, lot 60); and J.P. Morgan (Parke Bernet & Co., Inc., New York, 8 January 1944, Lot 93). See Property of a Texas Collector, Christie's, New York, 25-26 October 1994, lot 239 for another 18th century example also signed by Arnould.
For information on the 18th century prototype, see Tardy, La Pendule Française, 2eme Partie: Du Louis XVI à nos jours, Paris, 1975, p. 288, no. 6 for the 18th century example from Niderviller in the Musée Nissim de Camondo, Paris signed by Nicholas Arnould and painted with landscapes on a blue-ground and p. 289, pl. 1 for a white-ground example in the collection of G. Hudelot signed Garrigues Marseilles.
Other examples are recorded in the following collections: a private collector (M. Georges Blumenthal, Paris, 1 December 1932, Lot 493); Madame La Comtesse Chandon de Briailles (Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 8 May 1935, lot 60); and J.P. Morgan (Parke Bernet & Co., Inc., New York, 8 January 1944, Lot 93). See Property of a Texas Collector, Christie's, New York, 25-26 October 1994, lot 239 for another 18th century example also signed by Arnould.