A PATINATED BRONZE, MERCURY GILT-BRONZE AND WHITE MARBLE ROTATING CIRCLES FOR MINUTES AND 24 HOURS DEVIDED FOR DAY AND NIGHT CLOCK NAMED 'CLIO AND TIME', LOUIS XVI, BY THE CLOCKMAKER JEAN-ANDRÉ LEPAUTE AFTER THE ARCHITECT CHARLES DE WAILLY AND THE SCULPTOR JEAN-ANTOINE HOUDON |

a woman standing by a terrestrial sphere and indicating the minutes with a stylus, the sphere on a square pedestal with a Greek inscription and the signature LEPAUTE A PARIS, the allegory of Time embodied by a putto holding a scythe, the rectangular base with acanthus leaves, the movement signed Lepaute.Hger.DU.ROI; (the scythe and the stylus later)

- Collection Monsieur X. (Jacques de Ganay), Sale Me Ader, galerie Charpentier, Paris, 4 June 1958, lot 175

RELATED LITERATURE
- P. Verlet, « Bronzes d'ameublement français du XVIIIe siècle, notes et documents », communication at La Société d'Histoire de l'Art Français, 10 May 1980

The illustrations of the catalogue are accurate. The clock has an impressive scale (63 cm - 24 3/4 height). Very nice quality of chasing and patina. There are some minor rubbed areas to the gilding, especially to the edges as expected. The marble bases are slightly yellowish and would benefit from a gentle cleaning. There are some chips to the edges of the white marble bases. The movement appears to be complete but is not working and is dirty, it needs cleaning and servicing. The pendulum is missing. The front and the back gilt bronze rectangular elements of the pedestal can be removed to see and access the mechanism. The movement has a split single barrel to drive both the going and striking trains, outside count wheel striking on a bell, silk suspension with regulation sector engraved on the front plate and also signed on the front plate Lepaute Hgr du Roi. Beautiful and rare model.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

This clock model was made by the clockmaker Jean-André Lepaute. He enabled it to be identified due to the description he made in 1766 by detailing the nomenclature of his production and the pricing based on gilding choices. This clock, called Pendule Clio is specified as follows: “It is 20 inches high. Clio is leaning on the left, on the other side the Reader of Time, crossing impetuously the ruins of an Antiquity monument and reversing in his path everything that is presented to him. Gilded 2,500 livres. In antiquated or smoked bronze 2,000 livres." The model was designed by the architect Charles De Wailly (1730-1798), and the figures by Jean-Antoine Houdon (1741-1828). The known copies explain the different variants, in the choices of marbles, the globe (terrestrial or celestial) as well as the options of gilding.

In addition to the Ribes collection, other examples are listed:

- Pendulum housed in the Château de Fontainebleau (entirely gilt with the exception of spinning circles around the equator), cf. fig. 1

- Pendulum from the Ogden Mills collection, Christie's, London, The Exceptional Sale, 4 July 2013, lot 12 (fully gilt)

- Pendulum from the Ogden Mills collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (inv. 37.160.10) (patinated figures, with a celestial globe)

- Pendulum from the Kimberley and Hodgkins collection, auction in Paris, Ader, Charpentier Gallery, 14 December 1936, lot 109, resold Sotheby's, London, 25 November 1988, lot 114 (patinated figures), cf. fig. 2

A memoir written by the clockmaker Lepaute explains that as clockmaker to the Prince of Condé he delivered, between 1769 and 1772, five pendulum clocks for the Palais Bourbon. Among these, a pendulum clock with a Clio figure was bought for 3,500 livres. It is probably an enlargement and adaptation of the initial model based on De Wailly’s specifications for the Princess of Condé’s bedroom and delivered during the renovation of her Parisian home. The pendulum from the Palais Bourbon had a precision, inset with a bell mechanism that “stops itself from midnight until noon, and starts ringing until midnight, something that the princess demanded”. Lepaute perfected it to satisfy this request. It would be the clock which today is in the collection at Château de Fontainebleau.