Donnington Priory Salerooms

95
An ormolu mounted white marble and biscuit porcelain ‘Venus’ mantel timepiece
The design attributed to Benjamin Vulliamy, late 18th/early 19th century
The French eight-day movement with platform lever escapement vertically mounted on the backplate and white enamel
Roman numeral chapter ring to the engine turned-gilt dial within a rope-twist bezel, in a case with gilt compressed urn
surmount above shaped upstand housing the movement and dial, raised on a half rotunda temple-form base with
conforming ovoid pedestal vase finials above the gilt-capped Tuscan columns enclosing a figure of a semi-clad Classical
female holding forth a dove flanked by male and female putti, the former with a basket of fruit the latter with a birdcage, the
figures set on a shaped gilt plinth with mirror behind, the whole on stepped curved base, some restoration, 49cm high.
Provenance: Christies, King Street Out of The Ordinary The Discerning And Individual Taste of Christopher Gibbs And Harris
Lindsay 10th May 2006 lot 236. Where the case is attributed to Benjamin Vulliamy and the figures to Derby.
The design of the current lot clock is perhaps related to the model celebrating the triumph of Love with Euterpe produced
by Vulliamy with Duesbury Derby figures modelled by Johann Jacob Wilhelm Spangler in the early 1790’s. Both share the
use of bisque porcelain figures within a well conceived and detailed temple-form case. The proportions and refined
detailing of the current lot confirms the fact that this clock was conceived by someone highly versed in Classical Arts and
Architecture such as Vulliamy.
£3,000-5,000
48
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