A DIRECTOIRE BRONZE AND ORMOLU STRIKING PENDULE L'AFRIQUE

DEVERBERIE, PARIS, CIRCA 1795

Details

A DIRECTOIRE BRONZE AND ORMOLU STRIKING PENDULE L'AFRIQUE
deverberie, Paris, circa 1795
The drum-shaped case surmounted by the seated figure of a half-draped huntress, bow in one hand and arrow in the other, her feet resting on a turtle, with a chain to the lion seated beside her, on a waisted base with serpent-tied floral garland mounts to the sides and relief cast figures of amorini to the front, with beaded gallery, on toupie feet, the white enamel Roman dial with Arabic quarters signed Deverberie à Paris, with gilt-metal hands, the twin barrel movement with silk suspension and countwheel strike on bell
17¾in. (45.5cm.) high

Provenance

Auction house Horta, Brussels, 11 March, 1996 bought for $18,000

Lot Essay

The original engraving for this Pendule à l'Afrique is included in Deverberie's album of clock designs in the Bibliothèque Doucet. This design reflects the late 18th century interest in le bon Sauvage encouraged in the main by the abolition of slavery in 1793. The first of the French clocks of this style appears to have been La N©egress which was delivered by Furet and Gaudon to Marie Antoinette in 1784