61024: A French Napoleonic Imperial Bailly à Paris Gil
A French Napoleonic Imperial Bailly à Paris Gilt Bronze and Enamel Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, late 18th-early 19th century Marks: BAILLY A PARIS 32 x 15 inches (81.3 x 38.1 cm) PROVENANCE: Pendergrast Family, Georgia, Asa G. Trask, Savannah, Georgia, 1858; Thence by descent to Dr. Frederick Marquand Trask, 1879; Thence by descent to Winthrop M. Trask, 1916; Acquired by Henry E. Magill, 1939 and thence by descent LITERATURE: The New York Journal, October 15, 1879; Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, September 15, 1895; Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, California, October 18, 1923. The cercle tournant-type clock with eight-day time, strike spring driven movement, deadbeat anchor escapement, and suspended pendulum, striking on bell. Single, revolving enameled horizontal dial with Roman numerals and inscribed BAILLY A PARIS. Brass case with three sphinxes supporting a drum holding the mechanism embellished with cruciform angels draped with beribboned garlands centered by medallions with crowned-N, two of which swing open to reveal winding mechanism, upon the drum rest three eagles with outstretched wings supporting the starred globe, crowning the whole kneels Victory with flowing scarf holding pointer. This clock is held to have been commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte as a near pair from Bailly à Paris, an important clockmaking family in Paris in the early 19th century, named Horloger de LL.MM. II. Et RR; Clockmaker to their Imperial and Royal Majesties. In addition, there is evidence of the sister clock. It was most recently in the collection of Chateau De Compiègne, where it was stolen in 1998. Fortunately, an image exists. Pendule à globe tournant de la chambre de l'Impératrice Bailly (19e siècle), orfèvre, horloger Thomire Pierre-Philippe (1751-1843), bronzier The near pair of horological trophies incorporate symbolic references to Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign crowned by the ribbon-adorned Victory maiden and three siren-style sphinxes at the base. The most significant difference between the two clocks is the globe. While the one presented here is terrestrial with a starred surface, the sister clock has an enameled globe showing the constellations. Although documentation of the clock in period French records is scanty, 19th-century American newspaper articles eagerly followed the terrestrial clock, repeating the story of its commission by Napoleon shortly after his being crowned emperor, and its subsequent purchase by a southern planter in the auctions held following Napoleon’s exile in 1815. It changed hands to the Prendergast family of Georgia and then to Asa Trask in 1858. It is after that purchase that it appears in the first of several news articles. The first from The Journal dates to October 15, 1879, at the time of its gifting to Frederick Marquand Trask by Asa Trask. "The wedding presents were numerous and beautiful; among them is a curious and very valuable clock, once the property of Napoleon Bonaparte; it is of brass, very peculiar in design and mounted on a marble pedestal." Following is a September 15, 1895, article in the Chicago Tribune which includes a drawing of the clock. By that time, Dr. Frederick Marquand Trask had gifted the clock to his eldest son, who, in turn, presented the clock to his wife. At the writing of the article, she was residing in Chicago at 469 Fullerton Avenue, and the clock was back in her home after being on exhibit in a display window on North Clark and Illinois Street. The article ends: "Of interest at any time, it is particularly cherished just now in view of the Napoleonic revival." A third article is in the Pasadena Star, October 18, 1923, and includes a photo of the clock and identifies the owner as William M. Trask, who had recently moved to the city and was residing at 1175 North Chester Avenue.
HID03101062020
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Condition Report: Buyer's Premium per Lot:25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,001 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,001 per lot.
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A French Napoleonic Imperial Bailly à Paris Gilt Bronze and Enamel Cercle Tournant Mantel Clock Attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire, late 18th-early 19th century Marks: BAILLY A PARIS 32 x 15 inches (81.3 x 38.1 cm) PROVENANCE: Pendergrast Family, Georgia, Asa G. Trask, Savannah, Georgia, 1858; Thence by descent to Dr. Frederick Marquand Trask, 1879; Thence by descent to Winthrop M. Trask, 1916; Acquired by Henry E. Magill, 1939 and thence by descent LITERATURE: The New York Journal, October 15, 1879; Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, September 15, 1895; Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, California, October 18, 1923. The cercle tournant-type clock with eight-day time, strike spring driven movement, deadbeat anchor escapement, and suspended pendulum, striking on bell. Single, revolving enameled horizontal dial with Roman numerals and inscribed BAILLY A PARIS. Brass case with three sphinxes supporting a drum holding the mechanism embellished with cruciform angels draped with beribboned garlands centered by medallions with crowned-N, two of which swing open to reveal winding mechanism, upon the drum rest three eagles with outstretched wings supporting the starred globe, crowning the whole kneels Victory with flowing scarf holding pointer. This clock is held to have been commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte as a near pair from Bailly à Paris, an important clockmaking family in Paris in the early 19th century, named Horloger de LL.MM. II. Et RR; Clockmaker to their Imperial and Royal Majesties. In addition, there is evidence of the sister clock. It was most recently in the collection of Chateau De Compiègne, where it was stolen in 1998. Fortunately, an image exists. Pendule à globe tournant de la chambre de l'Impératrice Bailly (19e siècle), orfèvre, horloger Thomire Pierre-Philippe (1751-1843), bronzier The near pair of horological trophies incorporate symbolic references to Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign crowned by the ribbon-adorned Victory maiden and three siren-style sphinxes at the base. The most significant difference between the two clocks is the globe. While the one presented here is terrestrial with a starred surface, the sister clock has an enameled globe showing the constellations. Although documentation of the clock in period French records is scanty, 19th-century American newspaper articles eagerly followed the terrestrial clock, repeating the story of its commission by Napoleon shortly after his being crowned emperor, and its subsequent purchase by a southern planter in the auctions held following Napoleon’s exile in 1815. It changed hands to the Prendergast family of Georgia and then to Asa Trask in 1858. It is after that purchase that it appears in the first of several news articles. The first from The Journal dates to October 15, 1879, at the time of its gifting to Frederick Marquand Trask by Asa Trask. "The wedding presents were numerous and beautiful; among them is a curious and very valuable clock, once the property of Napoleon Bonaparte; it is of brass, very peculiar in design and mounted on a marble pedestal." Following is a September 15, 1895, article in the Chicago Tribune which includes a drawing of the clock. By that time, Dr. Frederick Marquand Trask had gifted the clock to his eldest son, who, in turn, presented the clock to his wife. At the writing of the article, she was residing in Chicago at 469 Fullerton Avenue, and the clock was back in her home after being on exhibit in a display window on North Clark and Illinois Street. The article ends: "Of interest at any time, it is particularly cherished just now in view of the Napoleonic revival." A third article is in the Pasadena Star, October 18, 1923, and includes a photo of the clock and identifies the owner as William M. Trask, who had recently moved to the city and was residing at 1175 North Chester Avenue.
HID03101062020
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Condition Report: Buyer's Premium per Lot:25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,001 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,001 per lot.
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