“Cercles Tournants” Louis XVI Mantel Clock, Bronze Attributed to Gouthière

View Similar Items

Ormolu, White Marble and Tole Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock by Lepaute

Cercles Tournants Clock Garniture by Deniere, Paris

Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Porphyry Cercle Tournant Fine French Mantel Clock

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

French Louis XVI Style Bronze Mantel Clock

Important Cercles Tournants Rotary Clock set by Deniere

Louis XVI Style French Mantel Clock in Gilded Bronze

French Louis XVI Cupid Mantel Clock

Louis XVI Style Mantel Clock

Neoclassical Louis XVI Period French Mantel Clock

A Louis XVI Style Mantel Fine Gilt-Bronze Clock by François Linke

Louis XVI-Style Gilt Bronze and White Marble Figural Mantel Clock

About the Item

Important white marble “Cercles Tournants” mantel clock. Gilt bronze mounts attributed to Pierre Gouthière. Paris, Louis XVI period, circa 1775-1785. Measures: Height 39.5cm; width including handles 21 cm; base 11.5 cm x 11.5 cm. Two superposed dials, or “cercles tournants,” made up of enamel cartouches, indicate respectively the hours in Roman numerals and the minutes in Arabic numerals. The movement is housed in a Fine white statuary marble vase after the antique, sculpted with wide leaves and spiralling gadroons. The grooved squared handles feature lion masks; the belly is adorned with laurel leaf and seed garlands with a snake that indicates the time with its tongue. The clock is surmounted by a leaf and seed finial. The moulded pedestal is decorated with a beribboned laurel leaf and seed torus and rests on a square base, which itself is supported by a quadrangular gilt bronze base with plain reserves and matted borders. Toward the mid 18th century, there was a revolution in the ornamentation employed in the Parisian decorative arts. Inspired by the archaeological discoveries made at Pompeii and Herculaneum, connoisseurs, artists and artisans progressively adopted the new style known as Neoclassicism. In the field of horology, this resulted in the creation of a new type of clock known as “cercles tournants.” The cercles tournants clock was better suited to cases shaped as vases “after the antique.” This new fashion was much appreciated by important collectors and reached its apogee during the reign of Louis XVI. The present clock is unusual in its juxtaposition of white marble and gilt bronze mounts, whereas nearly all the other known examples are made entirely of gilt bronze. The finely executed mounts may be attributed to the chaser Pierre Gouthière. Only a few similar examples employing the same materials are known. One of these was sold at auction at Christie’s, London on April 6, 1978, lot 14; a second example featuring ram’s heads and a lid decorated with a sculpted putto, formerly in the collection of the Count Greffulhe, was sold in London (Sotheby’s, July 23, 1937, lot 38). Pierre Gouthière (1732-1813) was no doubt the most talented Parisian chaser of his time. He boasted, among his patrons, the Duke d’Aumont, one of the most important collectors of the second half of the 18th century. In 1767 Gouthière was named doreur ordinaire des Menus Plaisirs du Roi. The Menus Plaisirs was responsible for the commissions given by the King to various artists and artisans. The nomination greatly enhanced his reputation and won him a clientele of connoisseurs of rare and precious objects, including the royal family, the duc d’Aumont, important aristocrats such as the Marquis of Marigny, brother of the Marquise de Pompadour, Princess Kinsky, the King’s mistress Countess du Barry, the Duchess of Mazarin, the Duke of Duras, the Duchess of Villeroy, and well-known financiers such as the wealthy treasurer of the Marine, Baudard de Saint-James, and the influential banker Thélusson.

Attributed to:
Pierre Gouthiere (Cabinetmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 15.56 in (39.5 cm)Diameter: 8.27 in (21 cm)
Style:
Louis XVI (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Marble,Gilt
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
1770-1779
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1775-1785
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Certificate of authenticity. Original gilding and movement Fully overhauled upon sale.
Seller Location:
Paris, FR
Reference Number:
Seller: P0861stDibs: LU142422789312

Early 20th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze, Ormolu, Tôle

Ormolu, White Marble and Tole Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock by Lepaute

$43,453

Cercles Tournants Clock Garniture by Deniere, Paris

By Jean-François Denière

Located in Brighton, West Sussex

A Rare and Exceptional Gilt and Patinated Bronze Monumental Cercles Tournants Clock Garniture, by Deniere, Paris. The backplate signed 'DENIERE...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Cercles Tournants Clock Garniture by Deniere, Paris

$119,497

Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Porphyry Cercle Tournant Fine French Mantel Clock

Located in London, GB

This stunning antique mantel clock is unusual for its serpentine design, featuring a gilt bronze, hanging snake head that acts as a clock hand. The 360 degree turning circular ena...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Neoclassical Mantel Clocks

Materials

Porphyry, Bronze

Neoclassical Style Ormolu and Porphyry Cercle Tournant Fine French Mantel Clock

$32,590

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

Located in Bradenton, FL

A very good quality Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock. French gilt bronze clock with enamel face, fruit and lion motif, on plinth. H 22.3 cm (8.8 in.), All clocks sold as is w...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock

$2,250

French Louis XVI Style Bronze Mantel Clock

Located in Brighton, Sussex

A very good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu and bronze Louis XVI style mantel (fireplace) clock, have cloven hoofed putti supporting the clock, with Bacchus influenced deco...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French Louis XVI Style Bronze Mantel Clock

$4,752

Important Cercles Tournants Rotary Clock set by Deniere

By Maison Deniere

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Very Large Important and Rare Napoleon III Period Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Sculptural rotary 3-piece clock set ("Pendule A Cercles Tournants") compr...

Category