THE MOVEMENT BY FRANCOIS-JOSEPH HARTMAN, PARIS, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A LOUIS XVI ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCK WITH CALENDAR AND WORLD TIME
THE MOVEMENT BY FRANCOIS-JOSEPH HARTMAN, PARIS, LATE 18TH CENTURY
The rectangular four-glass case on a bleu turquin marble plinth with inset putti frieze, the time dial signed 'HARTMANN A PARIS', the calendar dial above with days for each month, days of week, central moonphase aperture, painted ovals to the border with signs of the zodiac, the lower dial with 'twice 24 hour' time difference dial with global cities and countries, the substantial movement with conjoined double twin barrel movements for time and world time dials, skeletonised movement to the calendar dial, countwheel strike to bell
24 in. (61 cm.) high; 14 ½ in. (37 cm.) wide; 9 in. (22.9 cm.) deep

Provenance

Christie’s, Geneva, 16 June 1976, lot 36; where acquired by the present owner.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Carys Bingham

cbingham@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2350

Lot Essay

Francois-Joseph Hartmann was recorded at 9, rue de Vannes, Paris, where he rented a shop. After his marriage he moved to 54 rue Saint-Eustache until July 1814 when he purchased Hôtel d'Italie, in the same street. Tardy also records that from 1810-30 he worked from rue Tiquetonne. By that time Hartmann had been appointed Horloger-Mécanicien pour l'Observatoire et la Marine. His few known clocks display a remarkable quality often using enamel dials by Joseph Coteau (1740-1812). A clock by Hartmann with both Gregorian and Republican calendar dials sold Bonhams, London, 28 June 2011, lot 81, other examples are illustrated in P. Kjellberg, "Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XXe Siècle", 1997, pp. 281, 328 and 400).

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