REF NO : B76560

A Louis Philippe ‘Reims Cathedral’ Mantel Clock

France, Circa 1835

£32,000

A Louis Philippe Gilt-Bronze 'Reims Cathedral' Mantel Clock, Attributed to Bavozet Frères et Sœur. The eight-day twin-train movement, striking on...

Dimensions

Height: 52 cm (21 in)
Width: 33 cm (13 in)
Depth: 16.5 cm (7 in)
REF NO : B76560

Description

A Louis Philippe Gilt-Bronze ‘Reims Cathedral’ Mantel Clock, Attributed to Bavozet Frères et Sœur.

The eight-day twin-train movement, striking on a bell.

Modelled as the West facade of Reims Cathedral. The twin-towers above the gallery of kings, composed of statues. A pierced clock dial with enamel Roman chapters in place of the large rose window, flanked by tall arched windows. The central portal is devoted to the Virgin Mary. The statuary of the south portal depicts the Last Judgement and the north portal depicts the Crucifixion of Christ. Atop a talus plinth. On ebonised foot and under a glass dome.

France, Circa 1835

An especially nice example which survives in superb original condition with bright gilding free from tarnish, having benefited from always being kept under a glass dome. Retains original silk lining, behind the Gothic tracery windows.

Clocks such as these represent the definitive Gothic Revival, in that they seek to be accurate reductions without invention. The publication of Victor Hugo’s novel, Notre-Dame de Paris, in 1831, promoted the fashion for such models. Other makers include Vaugermé, who produced a model of the cathedral of Paris and Eugène Renduel offered Victor Hugo in 1836 a bronze clock representing Notre Dame de Paris.

The foundry Bavozet Frères et Sœurs presented a clock representing the portal of Reims cathedral at the exhibition Products de l’industrie of 1834. It is today in the collection of the King of Sweden and is illustrated in Un â ge d’or des arts décoratifs 1814-1848, Exhibition Catalogue, Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, 10 October-30 December 1991, Paris, No. 157, pp. 303-304.

 

Date

Circa 1835

Origin

France

Medium

Gilt-Bronze

Literature

Ottomeyer et Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, Vol. I., Munich, 1986, p. 416., fig. 6.1.3.

 

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