Important clock in bronze very finely chiseled,... Lot 208

Important clock in bronze very finely chiseled, patinated and gilded with mat gold or burnished gold; the movement, with hour and half-hour chimes, is inscribed in a terminal with an arched pediment enclosing a shield with a lion mascaron marked "Laius", the angles with flaming torches and resting on a terrace on which is figured a sculptural group representing Oedipus giving his blessing to Antigone in front of the tomb of Laius; The base in sea-green marble is decorated with a bas-relief representing Oedipus driving his chariot and turning towards Laius whom he leaves dead on the road; base with leafy doucine and small feet in winged feline claws. The dial, signed "Bourdier" and attributed to Joseph Coteau, indicates the hours in Roman numerals, the minutes in increments of fifteen in Arabic numerals, the dates of the month and the annual calendar associated with the signs of the zodiac. Attributed to Jean-François Denière and François-Thomas Matelin (1797-1820). Empire period (a chip in the right winding hole). H : 66 - W : 57 - D : 28 cm Its original composition, as well as its theme directly inspired by classical mythology, allow us to include this important mantel clock among the most elaborate Parisian clock creations of the Empire period. The model first appeared in 1807, when the bronzemaker Denière offered the Imperial Furniture Guard a clock representing "Oedipus blessing Antigone near the tomb of Laius" for the sum of 1900 francs. Thereafter, Denière, associated with Matelin, continues the marketing of the model; while, in parallel, the bronzier Thomire also markets this same model certainly from 1819 without we know how the House Thomire managed to decline the model of a competitor (see a clock of this type, signed "Thomire et Cie et Moinet aîné", which is part of the collections of the Louvre Museum and is illustrated in D. Alcouffe, A. Dion-Tenenbaum and G. Mabille, Les bronzes d'ameublement du Louvre, Éditions Faton, Dijon, 2004, p. 278-279, catalog n°139). Concerning more particularly the example that we propose, it corresponds to the known models made during the Empire and most of the time attached to the Denière and Matelin workshop. Thus, let us quote particularly a first clock of this type delivered around 1809 for the Salon des Grands Officiers at Het Loo and illustrated in Royal Clocks in Paleis Het Loo, A catalog, Paleis Het Loo National Museum, Apeldoorn,2003, p. 83-85; as well as a second clock of this type delivered around 1809 for the Salon des Grands Officiers at Het Loo, Apeldoorn,2003, p. 83-85. 83-85; as well as a second one, the dial signed "Denière et Matelin", which is exhibited in the Salon de Gaulle of the Hôtel de Brienne, now Ministry of Foreign Affairs (reproduced in E. Pénicaut, A. Gady, J-P. Samoyault, J. Siksou, M. Vaïsse and N. Chaudun, L'Hôtel de Brienne, Éditions de l'esplanade, 2016, p. 185). Finally, we note that a clock with the same subject was valued at 1,000 francs in October 1815 in the inventory after the death of Louis-Alexandre Berthier prince of Wagram: "Une pendule sujet d'Œdipe donnant la bénédiction à Antigone, socle de marbre vert de mer, Ravrio à Paris, boite de cuivre doré. The association Denière et Matelin is a commercial company created in the last years of the XVIIIth century by the bronziers François-Thomas Matelin and Jean-François Denière and which met a huge success with the great collectors and amateurs of the time. Indeed, within a few years, it became one of the most important suppliers of furniture bronzes in Europe, becoming one of the official suppliers of the Royal Furniture Guard in Milan. At the same time, Denière and Matelin built up a rich private clientele and above all participated in the decoration of most of the imperial palaces and castles by supplying furniture bronzes and clocks through the intermediary of some of their fellow bronze makers. The two men broke off their association in April 1820 and continued their careers separately. Jean-Simon Bourdier (died in Paris on June 26, 1839) was one of the important Parisian clockmakers of the late 18th century and the first quarter of the following century. He was received as a master on September 22, 1787 and immediately became famous for the perfection of his movements. At the beginning of the 19th century, he collaborated with the watchmaker Godon, the ornamentalist Dugourc and the sculptor Pierre Julien, on a few works of remarkable composition for the Spanish king Charles IV. At the same time, he worked for the greatest merchants of the time, particularly Daguerre and Julliot, and rigorously selected the craftsmen who participated in the creation of his clocks: in particular the chiseller Rémond, the cabinetmaker Schwerdfeger and the painters-enamellers Dubuisson and Coteau.