Description:
A Very Fine French 19th Century Gilt-Bronze Figural Mantel Clock, Horloge à Poser, by Henri Picard and Fedinand Barbedienne - ‘F. Barbédienne & Cie. / A Paris’, after the model by Étienne Martincourt (French, died after 1791, master 1762). The twin train movement stamped 'Vincenti & Cie - 'Medaille d'Argent' pastille and further inscriptions reading 'AD / 567 & 610'. The impressive finely chased mercury gilt ormolu body surmounted with two muses, a female figure representing Astronomy sits with a celestial globe, while on the right, Geography holds a loosely rolled map, below and ovoid gilt-bronze urn centered with a white enamel clock dial with Roman hours and Arabic minutes and signed 'F. Barbédienne & Cie. / A Paris'. The gilt-bronze base impressed 'H. Picard' twice on the reverse and 'JJ' on several ormolu pieces. Circa: Paris, 1870.
Refer to P. Kjellberg, Encyclopedie de La Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XXe siècle, 1997, pp. 214-215, for an illustration of the 18th century model by Étienne Martincourt.
According to the J. Paul Getty Museum, on the basis of a recently discovered signed drawing, the original design for the present model can now, firmly, be attributed to Etienne Martincourt (d. 1791), reçu maître en 1762. The elegant female seated figures flanking the clock case represent Sidereal and Terrestial Time, commonly called Astronomy and Geography. In a French revolutionary inventory of Louis XVI possessions, a clock supplied for the King at the Salle du Conseil at the Tuileries is described: "N0.5: Une pendule en forme de vase ornée de deux figures représentant l'astronomie et la géographie, le tout en cuivre doré et or moulu, le mouvement à sonnerie - 2 pieds de haut et 1 pied 6 po. de large - par Charles le Roi, Chez M. Robin. " This clock is now in the permanent collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California. Click here to view.
The well regarded fondeur and doreur Henri Picard was recorded at 6 rue Jarente in 1831, and moved to 10 rue de la Perle in 1839. The firm, which was active from 1831-1864, is known for having supplied very fine decorative objects to Emperor Napoleon III's apartments at the Louvre, which are still part of the collection, and was reputed for its fine quality decorative production of gilt and patinated bronzes, pièce de table and garnitures de cheminée. His works bear his "H. Picard" stamp.
Ferdinand Barbédienne (1810-1892) started his Parisian foundry 'The Barbedienne Foundry' in 1839 in partnership with Achille Collas, the inventor of a mechanical method for creating smaller-scale copies of sculptures, and quickly gained fame for its statues and art objects and became one of the most active and distinguished French bronziers of the 19th century. Collaborating with various trades, the bronze studio, under Ferdinand Barbedienne's leadership, lent its name to a diverse range of works, particularly in furnishing. Participating in every World's Fair of its era, the Barbedienne Foundry consistently received accolades, notably the Great Medal of Honor at the World's Fair of 1855. In addition to bronze reductions originating from Barbédienne's previous partnership with Achille Collas, the firm also produced decorative objects in styles reflecting the various exotic and revival trends popular at the time. The Barbedienne Foundry collaborated with eminent artists, sculptors, and designers, including Edouard Lievre, Ferdinand Levillain, Attarge, Aizelin, Barye, and Fremiet. Beyond statues, the foundry produced a variety of decorative artifacts, such as clocks, vases, mirrors, and more. Since 1855, Ferdinand Barbedienne collaborated with the renowned decoration designer Louis-Constant Sévin (1821-1888). Joining as a sculptor-designer, Sévin remained loyal to the firm throughout his life, continually innovating designs for daily objects that transformed into true works of art. Sévin's creations, specializing in the "Neo-Greek" style, were highly valued for their references to antiquity in decorative arts, exemplified by the outstanding mirror preserved at the Orsay Museum. Sévin also partnered with enamelers, including Alfred Serre, and introduced a series of "cloisonnés" enamels that garnered attention at the World's Fair of 1862 in London, marking the resurgence of enamel art. In collaboration with Serre, Barbedienne realized the Monumental Clock in Renaissance style between 1878 and 1889, adorned with enamels, currently preserved in the Paris City Hall. After Ferdinand's death the business was taken over by his nephew, Leblanc-Barbédienne, continuing until 1953.
Height: 27 1/4 inches (69.3 cm)
Width: 22 1/2 inches (57.2 cm)
Depth: 10 1/2 inches (26.8 cm)
Ref.: A2750 – Lot 10392
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