102nd Auction
2020/6/29
Lot 408
Charost à Paris / Balthazar Lieutaud, Total Height 990 mm, circa 1750
A splendid Louis XV cartel clock with bracket, so called "Cartel Sur Console" with half hour/hour strike
Case: green horn-veneered oak, firegilt bronze mountings of finest rocailles and volutes, glazed on three sides, detachable top concealing the bell. Dial: bronze, firegilt, enamel cartouches with radial Roman hours and additional enamel cartouches with Arabic minutes, finely cut iron hands. Movm.: square brass full plate movement, signed, 2 barrels, 1 hammer / 1 bell, verge escapement, short pendulum with silk string suspension.
The bracket is signed with scratched signature "B. Lieutaud". Balthazar Lieutaud (1720-1780) came from a family of renowned cabinetmakers and was a cousin of a watchmaker of the same name. This might be the reason for him to specialize in the making of these magnificent cases for clocks; he worked with the most famous bronze artists of his time such as Philippe Caffiéri, Charles Grimpelle and Edme Roy. Lieutaud became a master in 1749. His cases house clocks created by great makers such as Charles Le Roy, Ferdinand Berthoud, Robert Robin, Julien Le Roy, Lepaute, Lory and Bourdier. Lieutaud’s early work often reflected the scrolling curves of the Rococo style but from about 1765 he began to adapt to the more modern, neoclassical style. From 1750 on Lieutaud worked in Paris at Rue de la Pelleterie in the clockmakers’ quarter on the Île de la Cité; in 1772 he moved to Rue d'Enfer nearby. After his death, his wife Nicole Godard (1721-1800) continued the business until the mid 1780s, when she sold the majority in the company to Ferdinand Berthoud. In their encyclopaedia of the fine arts, Thieme-Becker state that Lieutaud "produced very expensive cases for long case clocks that were decorated with beautiful bronzes made by Caffiéri".
In his book on "Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World" Brian Loomes lists three Parisian clockmakers by the name Charost: Jean, who became a master in 1737, Philippe Jacques Charost, a master in 1748 and Jean Francois, Mâitre 1765-1789.
Another clock signed "Charost à Paris" resides at Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam and is attributed to Jean Charost.
A splendid Louis XV cartel clock with bracket, so called "Cartel Sur Console" with half hour/hour strike
Case: green horn-veneered oak, firegilt bronze mountings of finest rocailles and volutes, glazed on three sides, detachable top concealing the bell. Dial: bronze, firegilt, enamel cartouches with radial Roman hours and additional enamel cartouches with Arabic minutes, finely cut iron hands. Movm.: square brass full plate movement, signed, 2 barrels, 1 hammer / 1 bell, verge escapement, short pendulum with silk string suspension.
The bracket is signed with scratched signature "B. Lieutaud". Balthazar Lieutaud (1720-1780) came from a family of renowned cabinetmakers and was a cousin of a watchmaker of the same name. This might be the reason for him to specialize in the making of these magnificent cases for clocks; he worked with the most famous bronze artists of his time such as Philippe Caffiéri, Charles Grimpelle and Edme Roy. Lieutaud became a master in 1749. His cases house clocks created by great makers such as Charles Le Roy, Ferdinand Berthoud, Robert Robin, Julien Le Roy, Lepaute, Lory and Bourdier. Lieutaud’s early work often reflected the scrolling curves of the Rococo style but from about 1765 he began to adapt to the more modern, neoclassical style. From 1750 on Lieutaud worked in Paris at Rue de la Pelleterie in the clockmakers’ quarter on the Île de la Cité; in 1772 he moved to Rue d'Enfer nearby. After his death, his wife Nicole Godard (1721-1800) continued the business until the mid 1780s, when she sold the majority in the company to Ferdinand Berthoud. In their encyclopaedia of the fine arts, Thieme-Becker state that Lieutaud "produced very expensive cases for long case clocks that were decorated with beautiful bronzes made by Caffiéri".
In his book on "Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World" Brian Loomes lists three Parisian clockmakers by the name Charost: Jean, who became a master in 1737, Philippe Jacques Charost, a master in 1748 and Jean Francois, Mâitre 1765-1789.
Another clock signed "Charost à Paris" resides at Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam and is attributed to Jean Charost.
Sold
estimated
8.500—15.000 €
Price realized
9.400 €