Mantel clock 1800-10
Gilt bronze, blued steel, marble, glass | 75.0 x 78.0 x 26.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 2764
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Mantel clock representing Apollo in his chariot riding his four horses over the arc of heaven; one wheel of the chariot incorporates the clock mechanism. The span, which is of blued steel, includes signs of the zodiac (Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Aquarius) and is surrounded by gilt bronze clouds. Each end rests on a stepped griotte rectangular marble base fitted on the front with a head of Apollo flanked by stylised leaf ornament. The original movement by Thomire was replaced by Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy in 1834 who wrote that 'The works of the clock are good for nothing and the case is very dirty...'. The eight day timepiece has a fusee movement and ½ dead beat escapement. The gilded dial forms the wheel of the chariot with an enamel chapter ring with the hours represented by Roman numerals and a pair of blued steel moon shaped hands. Several other similar clocks have been traced and an identical model was sold at auction in Paris in 1829 for which Thomire is known to have charged 1,500 francs. Vulliamy number 1223
Provenance
Purchased by the Prince of Wales in 1810 from Mr Boileau. It was formerly in the Crimson Silk Drawing Room at Carlton House and later sent to Royal Lodge, Windsor in 1824. By the time Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy came to replace the original mechanism, the clock had been removed to the Royal Pavilion at Brighton.
Pierre-Philippe Thomire was the outstanding Parisian bronzeur and gilder of the early nineteenth century. He supplied finely chased mounts to leading Parisien ébénistes for furniture, clocks and the Sèvres porcelain factory. He was much patronised by Napoleon who made him Ciseleur de l'Empereur. His work represents some of the finest examples of Empire style.
In 1804 he acquired business of the marchand-mercier, Martin-Eloi Lignereux. The company employed a large workforce in a workshop at rue Boucherat and a showroom at rue Taitbout, from where Thomire retailed a large range of decorative objects inspired by antiquity including candelabra, extravagant centrepieces, clock cases and monumental Greek and Roman style urns and vases.
Thomire collaborated with three partners, renaming the business for a time Thomire, Duterme et Cie. The business suffered as a result of France's continuing European hostilities and to avoid bankruptcy the firm was granted dispensation to trade with the Prince Regent . Soon after 1815 the partnership with Duterme was dissolved and, under the old style, Thomire et Cie thrived once more under the restored Bourbons.
Thomire retired in 1823 and his two sons-in-law, Louis-Auguste-Cesar Carbonelle and André-Antoine Beauvisage, continued the business until 1852. Thomire continued to work as a sculptor and exhibited regularly at the Salon until 1834.
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Creator(s)
(clockmaker (case))(clockmaker (movement))(nationality)(nationality)Acquirer(s)
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Medium and techniques
Gilt bronze, blued steel, marble, glass
Measurements
75.0 x 78.0 x 26.0 cm (whole object)
Object type(s)
Alternative title(s)
Apollo Clock
