A RARE FRENCH CHARLES X MINIATURE ORMOLU FIGURAL MANTEL TIMEPIECE

A RARE FRENCH CHARLES X MINIATURE ORMOLU FIGURAL MANTEL TIMEPIECEPierre-Honoré-César Pons, St. Nicolas, circa 1825The eight-day circular single train movement with anchor escapement regulated by anchor escapement with silk suspension and engraved PONS, a St. Nicolas to backplate, the 2 inch circular silvered Roman numeral dial with engine-turned centre and blued steel moon hands, the case cast with a female in flowing robes seated and resting on an anchor on a rocky outcrop enclosing the movement and applied with a cornucopia, on plinth base with acanthus cast band over tied baton apron and generous scroll cast feet; with an associated giltwood plinth.24cm (9.25ins) high, 19cm (7.5ins) wide, 6.5cm (2.5ins) deep excluding giltwood stand. Provenance: The Selwyn Demmy Collection. Pierre-Honoré-César Pons was born in Paris in 1773 and after studying with the Jesuits in the rue Mouffetard he went to train under the eminent clockmaker Antide Janvier. Unfortunately the unrest of the French Revolutionary period disrupted his training but he was recommended by Janvier to the prestigious Lepaute family who took him on in 1798. Pons completed his training under the Lepautes and developed an interest in precision horology; in 1803 he opened his own workshop rue de la Huchette, near the Place Saint-Michel. In order to satisfy the financial demands of running a workshop, whilst taking time to work on the development of precision horology, Pons acted as supplier of movements to many the eminent horologists of the period such as Berthoud, Breguet and Lepine. During this time he developed several escapements and created improved wheel-cutting and pinion polishing machines. With the encouragement of Ferdinand Berthoud in 1804 Pons presented his 'Observations sur l'échappement libre' to the Academy of Sciences where it was praised by the jury and the Academy congratulated him. Around this time the French clockmaking town of Saint-Nicholas d'Aliermont was in crisis due to the collapse of the industry. Napoleon's minister responsible for Fine Arts, Industry and Commerce, the Count de Champagny, ordered the Académie des Sciences to find someone suitable to turn the industry around. Honoré Pons was approached as he had the necessary skills and had developed the tools and practices most appropriate for the task. After a period of reluctance he accepted on the basis that the state will pay him a generous amount for his machines as long as they were installed and used in the Saint Nicholas workshops. By 1808 Pons was producing fine quality 'blanc-roulants' for an affordable price which received high praise from makers such as Breguet and recognition by the Academie in their report to Napoleon Bonaparte.Over the following decades Honoré Pons expanded the Saint Nicholas operations and became a principal supplied of movements to the Parisian clockmaking trade from his premises in Paris's rue de la Barillerie on the île de la Cité. In 1827 he was awarded a gold medal and in 1839 was awarded the Croix de la Légion d'Honneur by King Louis Philippe. In 1846, at the end of an illustrious career, pons sold his firm to Borromée Délépine and retired, living in an elegant Parisian mansion at 20, rue Cassette.Condition Report: The movement appears to be complete and in working condition with no visible evidence of alteration or significant replacements; the mechanism however is a little dirty/discoloured hence a precautionary gentle clean/service is advised. The dial has overall light to moderate tarnishing to the silvering otherwise is in good overall condition. The case is in fine original condition retaining strong original gilding with minimal wear with only light to moderate discolouration to the more thinly gilded side and rear flat panels.Timepiece is complete with a pendulum and winding key; the non-original giltwood plinth has chips and losses to the gesso work, worn and faded velvet top lining and measures 23cm wide, 13.5cm deep and 4cm high. Condition Report Disclaimer