the two train movement with outside count wheel, silk 'tic tac' escarpment and striking on a bell, the 14cm enamel dial signed 'Sanguinede Paris' and 'Coteau', with Roman numerals at the hour marker, Arabic numerals at the quarter hours and Arabic numerals for the date dial, with gilt chased and pierced hands, the drum case is surmounted by an eagle cresting and flanked by two Sèvres style soft past figures after Louis-Simon Boizot's (1743-1809) “L’Étude”, the male 'Philosopher' and the female 'Learning', a panel beneath in bas relief depicting a sacrifice to Cupid in the manner of Claude Michel, called Clodion (1738-1814), the Carrera marble base inset with a central pierced ormolu frieze of opposing sphinx and two further classical masks, on turned and leaf cast bun feet, 54cm high x 60cm wide x 20cm deep
Provenance:
The Digby family.
Jean Sanguinede is recorded in Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the world by G. H. Baille. It is noted he was active in Paris between 1777 and 1789. The dial is also signed by Joseph Coteau (1740-1801), one of the most important émailleurs of this period, who executed enamelled dials and decorative plaques for clocks of significance. The mounted figures are after those by Louis-Simon Boizot, sculpteur du roi, who became Director of Sculpture at Sèvres in 1773 until his death in 1809. He is renowned for producing some of the firm's most important recorded works whilst working against a backdrop of turmoil and upheaval.
A similar clock of the same period also mounted with Sèvres soft paste figures resides in the Royal Collection, formerly at Carlton House in the Prince of Wales's Dressing Room, RCIN 30118.
