Bonhams 1793 : An impressive French mid-19th century patinated bronze monumental clock Les Trois Grâces by Auguste Lemaire, Paris

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15 Dec 2011 14:00 GMT London, New Bond Street
Fine European Furniture, Sculpture and Works of Art
Back to auction 19014

An impressive French mid-19th century patinated bronze monumental clock Les Trois Grâces

by Auguste Lemaire, Paris
the three graces group surmounted by an urn with dolphins and rams'heads, on a triform base signed A.LEMAIRE, centred by a circular patinated dial signed Brabant à Corcieux, flanked to each side by a scrolling acanthus terminated by a paw feet, above a Greek-key frieze, the movement inscribed to the back A.LEMAIRE/PARIS/R.V DU TEMPLE 121, on three columns and a triform plinth, 84.5cm wide, 64.5cm deep, 236cm high (33" wide, 25" deep, 92.5" high).

Sold for £37,250 inc. premium

Footnotes

The present clock and bronze group are made after the marble and bronze 'Monument funéraire du coeur d'Henri II' (1519-1539), King of France, that can be seen in the Louvre Museum. The group, also called 'Les Trois Grâces', was commissioned in 1560 by Marie de Médicis to the sculptor Germain Pilon (1528-1590).

Auguste Lemaire founded a workshop for the manufacture of "bronzes d'art" in 1851 at 10, rue Saintonge, in the Marais district. At the Universal Exhibition of 1855 he was awarded a medal. It was not before 1862, that he extends his business to rue Vieille du Temple. He gained a reputation in creating Renaissance or Henri II style bronze objects such as clock garnitures, chenets, candelabra, etc.

Category: Furniture / European Furniture and Works of Art

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