.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This superb and finely-chased cartel clock is embellished with a putti within clouds and surmounted by sun-rays. The dial is flanked by trails of vine terminating in a floral boss. It is in many ways similar to a small group of closely related examples, which were executed by Jacques Caffiéri around 1745-'50, who often used the sun-ray cresting motif. Several of these are stamped with the C Couronné poinçon, the tax mark on any alloy containing copper used between March 1745 and February 1749. This provides an approximate date for the present example. A cartel clock with similar cresting signed by Caffieri is illustrated in H. Ottomeyer/P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 116, fig. 2.5.9.
Etienne II Lenoir (maître in 1717) and his son Pierre-Etienne (maître in 1743) worked together from 1750 to 1771. They sold a great number of clocks throughout Europe and in 1759 their stock was valued at more than 28,000 livres. Their clock cases were made Cressent, Latz, Caffiéri, Saint-Germain and Osmond. Springs were supplied by the Richards, Buzot and Masson; enamel dials by Martinière and Decla.
Etienne II Lenoir (maître in 1717) and his son Pierre-Etienne (maître in 1743) worked together from 1750 to 1771. They sold a great number of clocks throughout Europe and in 1759 their stock was valued at more than 28,000 livres. Their clock cases were made Cressent, Latz, Caffiéri, Saint-Germain and Osmond. Springs were supplied by the Richards, Buzot and Masson; enamel dials by Martinière and Decla.