IMPORTANT 18TH CENTURY FRENCH LOUIS XVI MANTEL CLOCK – “L’ETUDE ET LA PHILOSOPHIE” – CIRCA 1785

An important ormolu mantel clock entitled “L’Etude et La Philosophie”, This clock was an enormously successful and popular model in the late 18th Century. It derives from a drawing in a catalogue produced by François Rémond, circa 1785, which incorporates figures designed and supplied to the Sèvres factory for reproduction in bisque porcelain by the sculptor Simon-Louis Boizot.

The clock is comprised of a circular white-enamelled dial, grey marble and gilt bronze. The white enamel dial with front glazing and with Arabic numerals for the hours and minutes, as well as the days and dates in red enamel with  black quarterly marks for the seconds.  The rare pin wheel movement strikes the hours and half hours but also controls seconds as well as the date. The circular drum case rests on a plinth, the front of which is set with an ormolu panel chased with cherubs playing , it is surmounted by an eagle and flanked by gilt bronze figures personifying Philosophy and Study (L’Etude et La Philosophie’), The clock rests on six circular gadrooned feet .

Three virtually identical clocks are in the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. A fourth is at Versailles (H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 295, figs. 4.17.5 and 4.17.6.); other clocks of this model are in the Swedish Royal Collection and in the Spanish Royal Collection.

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