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Lot Essay
Charles Balthazar, maître in 1717.
The size, harmony and richness of the composition as well as the refinement of the chasing suggest that this cartel clock is the oeuvre of an important master yet to be identified.
A closely related cartel clock was sold from the collection of Baron Achille Seillière, Paris, 5-10 May 1890 and then Christie's, Monaco, 2 December 1994, lot 64. The dial and movement were signed by Noel Balthazar who is in fact the brother of Charles Balthazar, maker of the present movement.
This example was linked to the oeuvre of Thomas Germain, on the basis of his 1748 inventory and the 1749 partnership documents between his son François-Thomas and his widow. These inventories mention two 'boîtes de pendule de cuivre (...) 1000 livres' while a 1765 inventory mentions: 'un Appolon et le serpent Piton/ un Appollon midas et marsias/ un Appollon et Daphné/ un enfant/ deux cadres de pendules'.
The 'C' couronné poinçon denotes a tax payed between 1745 et 1749 on bronze or copper.
The size, harmony and richness of the composition as well as the refinement of the chasing suggest that this cartel clock is the oeuvre of an important master yet to be identified.
A closely related cartel clock was sold from the collection of Baron Achille Seillière, Paris, 5-10 May 1890 and then Christie's, Monaco, 2 December 1994, lot 64. The dial and movement were signed by Noel Balthazar who is in fact the brother of Charles Balthazar, maker of the present movement.
This example was linked to the oeuvre of Thomas Germain, on the basis of his 1748 inventory and the 1749 partnership documents between his son François-Thomas and his widow. These inventories mention two 'boîtes de pendule de cuivre (...) 1000 livres' while a 1765 inventory mentions: 'un Appolon et le serpent Piton/ un Appollon midas et marsias/ un Appollon et Daphné/ un enfant/ deux cadres de pendules'.
The 'C' couronné poinçon denotes a tax payed between 1745 et 1749 on bronze or copper.