Cartel Régence and its lamphead-shaped support,... Lot 152

Cartel Régence and its lamphead-shaped support, in marquetry of brown tortoise shell and brass. The dial with thirteen pieces of enamel, signed "CORMASSON à Paris", as well as the back of the movement. The decoration is an allegory of Vigilance. The bronze applique of the gate represents a young woman in the antique style holding an oil lamp and a book marked "Ne prehendam te", and a crane. At the dampening, a child holding a bird that flies away. Stand decorated with female masks wearing palmettes. Ringing movement on a bell. Second quarter of the 18th century. H.: 119 cm - W.: 44 cm - D.: 21 cm. Restorations, some accidents, slight missing parts. An enamelled index to be replaced. Étienne CORMASSON, received Master Watchmaker in 1722, active on rue Saint-Martin in Paris, died in 1757. Iconography of the Vigilance: the young woman is holding an oil lamp to keep watch; the text written on the book "Ne deprehendam te" (Let me not surprise you) draws her attention; as for the crane, it holds a stone in its folded leg, whose fall must wake her if she falls asleep (Cf. Ripa, "Iconologia", 1643, p. 202, or the painting of Noël Coypel, inv. 3471). This allegory has been declined with connotations that are sometimes political, sometimes Christian. A very close cartel: no. 79 of the sale of February 17, 2019 at the Hôtel des ventes de Saint-Cloud.