Offered by Tobogan Antiques
Signed Denière Ft. de Bronzes/ A Paris
Case signed H. PICARD
Large and rare Louis XVI style cage clock in chiseled and gilded bronze, rectangular in shape, highlighted with friezes of water leaves and pearls, with glass panels decorated with tasseled draperies and ribboned foliage. The circular white enamel dial, adorned with garlands of flowers, indicates the hours and minutes in Arabic numerals. It is topped by a cassolette flanked by griffins holding a garland of vine leaves in their beaks. The pendulum is formed by a radiant mask of Apollo. Two uprights with acanthus scrolls, vines and cornucopias ending in hoof feet frame the case, supported by a winged sphinx carrying a garland of flowers. The whole rests on a molded base decorated with friezes of posts ending with cornucopia-shaped feet.
After nearly a century, the Denière company closed its doors and auctioned off its stock during six sales held between February and December 1903, granting the buyer the right to reproduce the company’s models. The current model, described as a “pendule à cage”, was acquired by François Linke at the third auction held between October 20 and 22, 1903, who successfully reproduced this model.
Biography :
Guillaume Denière (Paris, 1815-1903) studied art under the direction of the renowned French ornemanist Aimé Chenavard (1798-1838) and the architect Henri Labrouste (1801-1875). He took over from his father, established since 1804 at n°15, rue Vivienne in Paris. The firm is prosperous, with four hundred workers satisfying the numerous orders from king Louis Philippe and wealthy private clients. Following in his father’s footsteps, the son produced bronzes for furniture, candelabras, clocks and table centerpieces. He collaborated with numerous artists including Carrier-Belleuse (1848-1913) and Constant Sévin (1821-1888). He delivered several clocks (Genius of the Arts, Woman reading with a dog) for the Tuileries Palace in 1852. The table centerpieces, supple and ingenious in style, as testified by that of the Duc d’Orléans (1842) were acclaimed by the critics. His works were very often remarked at the Universal Exhibitions, to such an extent that Emperor Napoleon IIIrd bought a mantel garniture at the 1867 Universal Exhibition in Paris. His fame spread around the world. In 1854, he delivered a spectacular bronze centerpiece to the Russian Ambassador Kisselef, as well as decorative bronzes for the vice-king of Egypt, Saïd Pacha, in 1862, and the King of Cambodia, Norodom Ist (Screen of the Throne room).
Henri Picard was established in Paris, 6 rue Jarente from 1831 to 1839 and then 10 rue de la Perle from 1840 to 1864. He worked on the Emperor Napoleon III’s apartments gilding at the Louvre Palace. His production was in a rich and fine style, like a Japanese style inkwell, or his Pompeian style dining table centerpieces. He earned its reputation for the high quality of its planters and fireplace surrounds.
