97th Auction

2018/5/12

Lot 609

Charles Bertrand à Paris, Height 340 mm, circa 1780
An ornamental Louis XVI mantel clock of high quality, with half hour/hour strike
Case: white marble and ormolu, toupie feet. Dial: enamel. Movm.: circular brass full plate movement, signed, 1 hammer / 1 bell, count wheel, short pendulum.
This charming mantel clock is decorated with contemporary ornaments such as laurel, pine cones and bead and reel motifs. The body is flanked by four three-dimensional, fluted columns with a vase filled with flowers on top. A pair of billing doves are shown on the front.
The clock was made by Joseph-Charles-Paul Bertrand, who was known as Charles Bertrand (1746-89). He was one of the leading Parisian makers of his time and specialised in complex timepieces. During his illustrious but short career Bertrand created some truly marvellous and rare pieces which are today exhibited in the most important museums such as Metropolitan Museum New York, the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore and the Musée National des Techniques in Paris.
Unlike many other contemporary makers, Charles Bertrand was no descendant of a renowned watch- or clockmaking family, his father Joseph was a head waiter. Bertrand was born on May 24, 1746 in Nettancourt near Châlons and started his apprenticeship with Eustache-François Houblin in Paris in 1761, at the age of 14 or 15. In 1770 Bertrand presented his chef d'oeuvre and was received as mâitre-horloger a year later. Because of the exceptional quality of his work he was appointed Horloger de l'Académie Royale des Sciences. In 1772 Bertrand married and settled in the Rue Montmatre, where he remained for the rest of his short life. Despite his excellent reputation and a notable client list Bertrand was declared bankrupt on November 23, 1789. He died in the same year.

estimated
1.7005.000 €
Price realized
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