Skip to main content

Video Loading

1 of 11

Louis XV Ormolu Cartel Clock Approximately 1745

$108,416.72List Price

About the Item

ITEM: A LOUIS XV ORMOLU CARTEL CLOCK AUTHOR: CHARLES BALTHAZAR PERIOD: APPROXIMATELY 1745 Dimensions: 40 ¼ in. (102.3 cm.) high, 23 in. (58.5 cm.) wide The circular white enamel dial within an asymmetrical ormolu cartel clock case headed by a mask of Apollo, framed by a stylised wave and flanked by a nereid and Daphne in the process of being transformed into a tree, the tapering base with a putto above the mythological monster Python, stamped three times with the 'C' couronnépoinçon. The laurels with which poets and winners are crowned owe their origin to the transformation of the nymph Daphne into a laurel tree. The following ancient Greek myth arose about this - The love story of the god Apollo for Daphne was told by Ovid. Proud of his newly won victory over Python, Apollo meets the son of Venus, Eros (Cupid, Cupid), pulling the string of his bow, and laughs at him and his arrows. Then Eros decides to take revenge on Apollo. Eros's quiver contains various arrows: some instill love and passionate desire in the wounded, while others instill disgust. The God of love knows that the lovely nymph Daphne lives in the neighboring forest; Eros also knows that Apollo must pass through this forest, and he wounds the mocker with an arrow of love, and Daphne with an arrow of disgust. As soon as Apollo saw the beautiful nymph, he immediately became inflamed with love for her and approached her to tell Daphne about his victory, hoping to thus win her heart. Seeing that Daphne was not listening to him, Apollo, wanting to seduce her at all costs, began to tell Daphne that he was the god of the sun, revered by all of Greece, the powerful son of Zeus, a healer and benefactor of the entire human race. But the nymph Daphne, feeling disgusted with him, quickly runs away from Apollo. Daphne makes her way through the thicket of forests, jumping over stones and rocks. Apollo follows Daphne, begging her to listen to him. Finally Daphne reaches the Penea River. Daphne asks the river god, her father, to deprive her of her beauty and thereby save her from the persecution of Apollo, who she hates. and the gods turned her into a laurel tree, which Apollo hugged in vain, who henceforth made the laurel his sacred plant. Apollo cut several laurel branches and wove them into a wreath in memory of Daphne's beauty and his love for her. In addition, the golden-haired god of light declared the laurel a sacred plant, and also established an award in the form of a laurel wreath for all champions and those who have distinguished themselves in various areas of life. That is why the winners of the ancient Olympic Games were crowned with a wreath of evergreen laurels. The size, harmony and richness of the composition as well as the refinement of the chasing suggest that this cartel clock is the oeuvre of an important master yet to be identified. A closely related cartel clock was sold from the collection of Baron Achille Seillière, Paris, 5-10 May 1890 and then Christie's, Monaco, 2 December 1994, lot 64. The dial and movement were signed by Noel Balthazar who is in fact the brother of Charles Balthazar, maker of the present movement. This example was linked to the oeuvre of Thomas Germain, on the basis of his 1748 inventory and the 1749 partnership documents between his son François-Thomas and his widow. These inventories mention two 'boîtes de pendule de cuivre (...) 1000 livres' while a 1765 inventory mentions: 'un Appolon et le serpent Piton/ un Appollon midas et marsias/ un Appollon et Daphné/ un enfant/ deux cadres de pendules'. The 'C' couronné poinçon denotes a tax payed between 1745 et 1749 on bronze or copper. Charles Balthazar is one of the most important Parisian clockmakers of the reign of Louis XV. After becoming a master on March 26, 1717, he opened his workshop in the place Dauphine, later moving to the cloître Saint-Germain de l’Auxerrois and the rue du Roule. Within just a few years he had acquired an excellent reputation, receiving the coveted title of Horloger de Mesdames filles de France. Like the finest artisans of the period, he worked with the best bronziers and cabinetmakers for the cases of his clocks, including Joseph de Saint-Germain, Jacques Dubois, Jean-François Oeben, and Balthazar Lieutaud. He received commissions from the Garde-Meuble de la Couronne and could also boast of a wealthy private clientele including the Count d’Armentières, the connoisseur Nicolas Chuppin, Treasurer of the Marc d’or, the Marquis de Saint-Georges.

Creator:
Henri-Charles Balthazar (Clockmaker)
Dimensions:
Height: 40.28 in (102.3 cm)Diameter: 23.04 in (58.5 cm)
Style:
Louis XV (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze
Place of Origin:
France
Period:
Mid-18th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1745
Condition:
Repaired: - A delicate restoration was carried out - The bronze was polished and restored. Wear consistent with age and use.
Seller Location:
SAINT-JEAN-CAP-FERRAT, FR
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU8385233606482

You May Also Like

Louis XV Style Cartel Clock

Located in Pembroke, MA

Louis XV style Cartel clock in gilt bronze with painted porcelain dial. The case has been re-gilded, and features typical rocaille ornament such as laurel leaves and berries, flowers...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Louis XV Style Cartel Clock

Louis XV Style Cartel Clock

$5,600 Sale Price

35% Off

H 30 in W 14 in D 5 in

Louis XVI Ormolu Cartel Clock

Located in Kittery Point, ME

The circular glazed white enamel dial with Roman and Arabic chapters, set within a pierced case with ribbon-tied fruiting laurel trails, each side with a ram’s mask capped pilaster, ...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Louis XVI Ormolu Cartel Clock

Louis XVI Ormolu Cartel Clock

$17,500

H 31.75 in W 16.75 in D 4 in

Clock, Cartel in Louis XV Style

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Clock, Cartel in Louis XV style, 19th century, Napoleon III period. Measures: H: 45 cm, W: 22 cm, D: 14 cm.

Category

Antique 1870s European Louis XV Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Clock, Cartel in Louis XV Style

Clock, Cartel in Louis XV Style

$3,335

H 17.72 in W 8.67 in D 5.52 in

French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock

By F. Barbedienne Foundry, F. E. Becker Co

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A most important and high quality French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock, signed F. Barbedienne and E. Becker 98'. This impressive cartel clock with its original gi...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock

French 19th century Louis XVI/XV st. Ormolu cartel clock

$59,500

H 46 in W 23 in D 6.5 in

XVIIIth Cartel Clock Louis XV Boulle Marquetry

Located in Marseille, FR

Cartel from the Louis XV period in brown tortoiseshell and inlaid with brass signed in enamel Jean Louis Delisle in Paris and on the movement, strikes the hours and half-hours revise...

Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Wall Clocks

Materials

Brass, Bronze

XVIIIth Cartel Clock Louis XV Boulle Marquetry

XVIIIth Cartel Clock Louis XV Boulle Marquetry

$13,105

H 53.15 in W 19.69 in D 9.06 in

Large Antique French Louis XV Ormolu Rococo Cartel Wall Clock

Located in Belper, Derbyshire

A large and stunning original antique French Cartel Wall clock in finely gilded bronze, dating from around 1880. Elegantly designed in the Rococo style of Louis XV, it is formed of b...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Rococo Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Large Antique French Louis XV Ormolu Rococo Cartel Wall Clock

Large Antique French Louis XV Ormolu Rococo Cartel Wall Clock

$6,034

H 20 in W 12.75 in D 5.25 in

A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock

Located in Sheffield, MA

With a circular white enamel dial, surmounted by swags and ending with a woman’s face. Morbiere Movement

Category

Antique 19th Century French Clocks

A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock

A Louis XVI Style Ormolu Cartel Clock

$3,800

H 24 in W 18 in D 12 in

A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock

Located in Kittery Point, ME

A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock, the circular white enamel dial signed "Baudoin A Paris" within a cartouche-shaped case surmounted by an urn and ...

Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock

A Louis XVI Ormolu Figural Cartel Clock

$7,500

H 25 in W 12.5 in D 6 in

French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Cartel Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A beautiful French 19th century Louis XV st. Ormolu and patinated Bronze cartel clock. The clock displays a most elegant and decorative cloud like design with richly chased love bird...

Category

Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Wall Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Cartel Clock

French 19th Century Louis XV St. Ormolu And Patinated Bronze Cartel Clock

$19,800

H 28.25 in W 15.25 in D 5 in

French 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoiseshell and Ormolu Boulle Cartel Clock

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

A large and important French 18th century Louis XV period Tortoiseshell and ormolu Boulle cartel clock signed Le Faucheur, A Paris. The clock is ra...

Category

Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Wall Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoiseshell and Ormolu Boulle Cartel Clock

French 18th Century Louis XV Period Tortoiseshell and Ormolu Boulle Cartel Clock

$39,500

H 8.75 in W 17 in D 45 in

Still Thinking About These?

All Recently Viewed

More Ways To Browse

Francois Dubois

Antique French Industrial Clocks

German Industrial Clock

Mid Century Electric Clock

Side Wall Clock

Chrome Retro Wall Clock

Midcentury Sunburst Clock

Square Wall Clock

Train Station Furniture

Mirrored Wall Clock

Orange Vintage Clock

Painted German Clock

Square Vintage Wall Clock

Vintage Electric Motors

View All Popular Wall Clocks Searches