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Thomire & Cie

Mantel clock c.1806-12

Chased and gilt bronze, verde antico marble | RCIN 30016

Green Drawing Room, Windsor Castle

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  • A mantel clock representing an incident in the struggle between the Sabines and the Romans and an interpretation of Jacques-Louis David's painting when the Sabine women intervene to reconcile the warring parties. Romulus, to the right, is poised to hurl his spear at Tatius, King of the Sabines; a group of Sabine women appear with their infants and throw themselves between the warriors. A draped female figure kneeling on the cylinder holds aloft a new born baby while Hersily, wife of Romulus and daughter of Tatius, implores them to cease their hositilities. At her feet are two small children.  Romulus's cape is detachable.

    The clock cylinder is formed by a fallen capital, the movement inserted into the circular top. It rests on a massive fragment of fallen masonry. The whole rests on a rectangular marble base with applied gilt bronze representations of the rape of the Sabine women and an ormolu base.

    The original movement was replaced by Benjamin Louis Vulliamy in 1819. The eight day rack striking mechanism has a fusee movement and ½ dead beat escapement. The matt silvered dial has the 12 hours represented in Roman numerals and the quarters in arabic numerals with blued steel moon shaped hands. Vulliamy number 677. See RCIN 934749
    Provenance

    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.

    Received at Carlton House on 24 June 1812 (Jutsham Recs.I p. 205).   Included in the Pictorial Inventory of 1827-33 – RCIN 934749. The inventory was originally created as a record of the clocks, vases, candelabra and other miscellaneous items from Carlton House, as well as selected items from the stores at Buckingham House, the Royal Pavilion, Brighton, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace for consideration in the refurbishment of Windsor Castle. The clock was listed in the 1826 inventory of Carlton House in the Crimson Drawing Room and was despatched to Windsor Castle on 21 July 1828.

    At some stage the clock was moved to the Royal Pavilion, Brighton. It was consigned to Windsor following Queen Victoria's decision to sell the Royal Pavilion in 1846. It is item 26 in a 'List of Clocks, Shades Etc packed at the Pavilion Brighton 1846. Delivered by Mr. Tupper to Windsor Castle. 6 Jan 1847' and described as 'A Clock in a japanned case with ormolu rims vase etc. japanned Chinese Figures on a japanned base'.

  • Medium and techniques

    Chased and gilt bronze, verde antico marble

  • Alternative title(s)

    Clock with Sabine Women


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