LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2006 October Decorative Art Signature Auction #...  / 

33288

An Important French Boulle Regulator Clock

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:30,000.00 USD Estimated At:120,000.00 - 150,000.00 USD
An Important French Boulle Regulator Clock
<B>An Important French Ebonized Wood, Stained Horn and Gilt Bronze Regulator Clock</B></I><BR><BR> The case attributed to Andre-Charles Boulle, Paris, France<BR> The works by Archard, London, England<BR> Circa 1720<BR> Ebonized wood, stained horn, brass, gilt bronze, horn, enamel and glass<BR> Marks: the movement: <I>Archard, 70 Soh. Audley St., London</B></I><BR>84.5 in. high x 17.25 in. wide x 11 in. deep<BR><BR> The gilt bronze dial embossed with lambrequin design and white enamel reserves with blue Roman numerals, contained within a cartouche-shaped hood with masks to the upper side; the waisted center section with glazed pendulum aperture and Apollo mask; the tapered rectangular lower part raised on a plinth base fitted with gilt bronze hairy leaf-cast paw feet, centered by a mask of Bacchus; the whole outlined with foliate gilt bronze borders and decorated with panels of pierced quatrefoil on a ground of stained tortoiseshell, surrounded by ebonized borders outlined with banding. The works striking the hours on one bell and quarter-chiming on eight bells, with Apollo mask pendulum revealed through glazed aperture.<BR><BR> In its overall form and proportions, this clock is a simplified variant of the magnificent and sculptural regulator supplied by Andre-Charles Boulle (appointed <I>Ebeniste, Ciseleur, Doreur et Sculpteur du Roi</B></I> in 1672) to Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse now in the collections of the Louvre. Another regulator by Boulle of similar form and decoration was formerly in the Assemble Nationale, Paris, with a movement by Lebon and supplied to Cardinal de Chabot for the Hotel de Rohan. More recently, a regulator attributed to Boulle with similar brass-inlaid stained horn panels was sold from the Wildenstein Collection (Christies London, December 2005).<BR><BR> Of particular note is the pierced quatrefoil pattern on this example, which relates directly to a drawing in the collection of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris which has been attributed to Boulle. This same pattern appears on the Wildenstein clock as well as a long-case clock that has been traced to Prince Henri-Jules de Bourbon-Conde for the Petit Luxembourg bought directly from Boulle (sold Christie's New York, November 2000).<BR><BR> Prior to being purchased by Cornelius Vanderbilt II several additions and enhancements were made to this regulator. Specifically, a gilt bronze figure of a cherub and rooster was added to the crown of the hood, as well as the masks at the upper sides of the hood.<BR><BR> Provenance:<BR> Cornelius Vanderbilt II Collection, New York and later The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island<BR>by descent to Gladys, Countess Szechenyi, sold Weschler's, Washington DC, February 1973<BR>Private Collection, Dallas, Texas1 <BR><BR><B>Condition Report:</B> Normal signs of wear as appropriate with age. Gilt bronze masks to side of bonnet added at a later date. Pendulum mask possibly of later date.
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