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Lot Essay
This clock demonstrates the exceptional quality of the French decorative arts promoted by Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville-d’Avray, intendant-général of the garde-meuble de la couronne from 1783. Of a rare model supplied by the horloger du roi Caranda, this clock was most probably delivered to the garde-meuble and recorded in 1788 in the cabinet of Thierry Ville d’Avray’s apartment in Versailles.
With its classical urn, architectural pilasters and satyr heads this model is characteristic of the neo-classicism of the mid-1780s. A particularly distinctive and interesting feature of the clock are the finely-chased lions mounted on the plinth, which with one paw resting on a sphere recall the famous Medici lions of antiquity. Caranda supplied a number of clocks to the garde-meuble and several are mentioned at the château de Versailles in the inventory of Louis XVI’s clocks in 1788. In this inventory, a clock with a description matching this clock is recorded in the cabinet of the ‘Hostel de Monsieur le Comissaire général’ of the garde-meuble:
‘Une pendule de cheminée en bronse doré au mâte, sur socle de marbre blanc, enrichi de frises et rosettes, sur le socle sont deux lyons et sur les faces latérales de la pendule sont deux testes de belliers avec des guirlandes de feuilles de chêne et fruit, h. de 18 po. sur 14 po. 5 l. de large, par Caranda – Cabinet’
The dimensions of the present clock are the same as those described in the inventory and in the absence of any other known examples of this model, it is highly probable that the Steinitz clock is the one described at Versailles. The Hôtel du Garde-Meuble in Versailles was located close to the palace on the rue des Réservoirs. It was completed in 1783 and Thierry de Ville d’Avray used it as his residence when he was in Versailles, his Parisian residence being in the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble on the Place de la Concorde, now known as the Hôtel de la Marine.
Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville d'Avray (1732-1792) purchased the position of intendant and contrôleur général des Meubles de la couronne from Pierre-Elisabeth Fontanieu for 360,000 livres in 1783. Responsible for the upkeep and furnishing of the royal chateaux, Thierry reformed the functioning of the garde-meuble and compiled independent inventories for each of the royal chateaux. Socially ambitious, he obtained the seigneurie of ville d'Avray which he had changed into a barony in 1784, and purchased the marquisate of Mauregard in 1789 for 350,000 livres. In 1789 he was appointed mayor of Versailles. Following his arrest in August 1792, 120,000 livres in gold were found hidden in the upholstery of a sofa in his cabinet in Paris and he was killed in prison shortly during the September Massacres. As this clock demonstrates, Thierry de Ville d’Avray decorated his apartments in the latest taste employing France’s most skilled craftsmen.
This clock demonstrates the exceptional quality of the French decorative arts promoted by Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville-d’Avray, intendant-général of the garde-meuble de la couronne from 1783. Of a rare model supplied by the horloger du roi Caranda, this clock was most probably delivered to the garde-meuble and recorded in 1788 in the cabinet of Thierry Ville d’Avray’s apartment in Versailles.
With its classical urn, architectural pilasters and satyr heads this model is characteristic of the neo-classicism of the mid-1780s. A particularly distinctive and interesting feature of the clock are the finely-chased lions mounted on the plinth, which with one paw resting on a sphere recall the famous Medici lions of antiquity. Caranda supplied a number of clocks to the garde-meuble and several are mentioned at the château de Versailles in the inventory of Louis XVI’s clocks in 1788. In this inventory, a clock with a description matching this clock is recorded in the cabinet of the ‘Hostel de Monsieur le Comissaire général’ of the garde-meuble:
‘Une pendule de cheminée en bronse doré au mâte, sur socle de marbre blanc, enrichi de frises et rosettes, sur le socle sont deux lyons et sur les faces latérales de la pendule sont deux testes de belliers avec des guirlandes de feuilles de chêne et fruit, h. de 18 po. sur 14 po. 5 l. de large, par Caranda – Cabinet’
The dimensions of the present clock are the same as those described in the inventory and in the absence of any other known examples of this model, it is highly probable that the Steinitz clock is the one described at Versailles. The Hôtel du Garde-Meuble in Versailles was located close to the palace on the rue des Réservoirs. It was completed in 1783 and Thierry de Ville d’Avray used it as his residence when he was in Versailles, his Parisian residence being in the Hôtel du Garde-Meuble on the Place de la Concorde, now known as the Hôtel de la Marine.
Marc-Antoine Thierry de Ville d'Avray (1732-1792) purchased the position of intendant and contrôleur général des Meubles de la couronne from Pierre-Elisabeth Fontanieu for 360,000 livres in 1783. Responsible for the upkeep and furnishing of the royal chateaux, Thierry reformed the functioning of the garde-meuble and compiled independent inventories for each of the royal chateaux. Socially ambitious, he obtained the seigneurie of ville d'Avray which he had changed into a barony in 1784, and purchased the marquisate of Mauregard in 1789 for 350,000 livres. In 1789 he was appointed mayor of Versailles. Following his arrest in August 1792, 120,000 livres in gold were found hidden in the upholstery of a sofa in his cabinet in Paris and he was killed in prison shortly during the September Massacres. As this clock demonstrates, Thierry de Ville d’Avray decorated his apartments in the latest taste employing France’s most skilled craftsmen.