A FRENCH LOUIS XV ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE ELEPHANT MANTEL CLOCK

A FRENCH LOUIS XV ORMOLU AND PATINATED BRONZE ELEPHANT MANTEL CLOCK

AFTER A DESIGN BY JACQUES AND PHILIPPE CAFFIERI, MID-18TH CENTURY AND LATER

the brass drum movement with an outside countwheel striking on a bell, the five and a quarter inch enamelled dial with Roman hour numerals inside Arabic minute numerals to the quarters, in a chinoiserie case surmounted with a Chinaman holding a spear, with foliate swags to either side and convex glazing to the front and back, mounted on the back of an elephant standing four square with its trunk raised, on a naturalistic base with scrolling feet, with key and pendulum

46.5cm high, 38cm wide, 17cm deep

Provenance

Alfred de Rothschild (1842-1918) Bedroom no.7, Halton House, Buckinghamshire

Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942)

Edmund de Rothschild (1916-2009)

The Trustees of Exbury House

Literature

Rothschild Archive, London, Manuscript: 000/174/C/3, Christie, Manson & Woods Probate Valuation of 'The Estate of Alfred C. de Rothschild, Esq. C.V.O. Deceased, Halton House Tring'. 1918. Listed as 'A clock in ormolu case, supported by a figure of an elephant, £15.0.0.'

Catalogue note

The 18th century was a period of great exploration and the discoveries made were often reflected in the decorative arts of the period. This was especially true in France during the reign of Louis XV where the skills of the master clockmakers, ebenistes, bronziers and ceramicists were often combined to create fantastical objects such as the clock being offered here. The animals used in the creations varied widely and eventually included elephants, rhinoceroses and ostriches, as well as the more recognisable bulls and wild boars. The earliest examples of these exotic clocks date to the mid-1740s but their popularity reached its zenith in the 1750s and lasted to the early 1760s.

The modelling of the elephant used in this clock is likely to have its origins in the Japanese Kakiemon porcelain models of the late 17th century such as those that can be seen at Burghley House in Lincolnshire (Porcelain from Palaces, Exhibition Catalogue, British Museum, 6 July - 4 November 1990, p.178, no.160), and others were found across the European Courts.

A prominent maker of clock cases was Joseph de Saint-Germain (maitre in 1750). He was one of the most celebrated bronziers of his age and championed the Rococo style. See H. Ottomeyer / P. Proschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, p.123. pl.2.8.3., for an elephant clock by Saint-Germain very similar to our clock.

A related clock formerly in the Jones Collection can be found in the Victoria & Albert Museum, accession number: 1008:1-1882.