Empire period Gilt Bronze Sailor Clock after Deverberie

Rare ‘au negre’ clock depicting a sailor with glass eyes, leaning against a cotton bale and smoking his pipe, a rope in his hand. Around him we find the attributes of maritime trade: barrel, purse and coins, anchor, oar decorated with fish. It stands on a base decorated in low relief with cherubs unloading a ship. It stands on four feet simulating barrels.
Original enamelled dial signed ‘Champion, rue de la Feuillade à Paris’ with Roman numerals. Two small chips previously restored. Original wire movement, overhauled and cleaned by a watchmaker. Clock in perfect working order. Supplied with winding key and setting key. Perfect condition, original mercury gilding, no missing parts, no accidents. Works perfectly without any advance or delay, ringing OK.

Empire period model, based on a design by Jean Simon Deverberie (1764-1824), a merchant of the time, these clocks known as ‘Au Bon Sauvage’ were very popular in the early 19th century. A symbol of exoticism, trade and travel, these clocks were appreciated by a clientele of scholars with a pre-romantic vision of the world.

Comparative bibliography :
P. Kjellberg, ‘Encyclopédie de la Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XXe siècle’, Éditions de Amateur, p.343, fig. A.
H.Ottomeyer, P.Pröschel, et al. ‘Vergoldete Bronzen’, Munich, 1986, p.381, fig.5.15.26.
G. Wannenes, ‘Les plus belles pendules françaises de Louis XV à l'Empire’,