Louis XV bull clock signed WALTRIN in PARIS

Bull clock in patinated bronze, gilded and chiselled bronze

Dial and movement signed ‘Waltrin à Paris’

Joseph Waltrin, Master Clockmaker (1720 - Before 1789)
Dimensions: L. 32 cm X H. 50.5 cm X D. 20 cm

This bull clock powerfully and originally illustrates the decorative repertoire of the Louis XV style, in its fully Rococo phase, around the middle of the eighteenth century.

The composition is based on a contrast between the powerful naturalism of the animal and the ornamental exuberance of the gilt bronze mount. The bull, treated in brown patinated bronze, is distinguished by its precise and sensitive modelling: the musculature is firmly rendered, the volumes are full, the transitions supple, reflecting a careful observation of anatomy. The attitude, slightly animated by the forward movement of a limb, gives the figure a dynamic presence while maintaining a noble stability.

In contrast, the frame of the dial displays a typically rococo style: asymmetrical clasps, stylised shells, acanthus leaves and foliage with bold curves combine to create a design of great formal freedom. The sinuous lines, counter-curves and breaks create an upward movement culminating in a veritable decorative flame.

The base abandons all architectural rigour in favour of a naturalistic mound animated by foliage, treated with deep relief and vibrant chiselling. This fusion of nature and ornamentation is characteristic of the Louis XV style, which favours fantasy, fluidity and controlled irregularity.
The chromatic contrast between the brown patina of the bull and the warm glow of the gilding reinforces the plastic effect of the whole. The finely chiselled gilding captures the light and emphasises the edges, while the more matt surface of the animal absorbs the light, creating a subtle play of shadows and reflections.

The white enamelled dial, with Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, introduces a note of graphic rigour into this lively composition.

The signature ‘Waltrin à Paris’ — corresponding to the Parisian master watchmaker Joseph Waltrin — places the work within the tradition of high-quality Parisian watchmaking, where the collaboration between master watchmakers and bronze artists gave rise to these themed clocks, which were particularly sought after during the reign of Louis XV.

Bibliography: Similar models of bull clocks in: ‘Encyclopedia of French Clocks’; Pierre Kjellberg; pp. 132, 133, 134, 135