HANGING "À LA LEÇON D'ASTRONOMIE" OF THE EMPIRE PERIOD Attributed to Claude Galle (1759-1846), based on a drawing by Jean-André Reiche (1752-1817)
In chased and gilded bronze, the dial signed "Boulu Eve de Lépine Hger de l'Impératrice à Paris", flanked by two antique women sitting on armchairs, one symbolising Geography, the other Astronomy, the base decorated with trophies.
H. 35.2 cm (13 ¾ in.)
l. W.: 37.5 cm (14 ¾ in.)
Comparative bibliography :
P. Kjellberg, "Encyclopedie de la Pendule Française du Moyen Age au XXe siècle", les Editions de l'Amateur, 1997, p. 398, fig. D.
H. Ottomeyer P. Pröschel et. al, "Vergoldete Bronzen", Munich, 1986, vol. I, p. 374, fig. 5.15.2.
G. Wannenes, "Les plus belles pendules françaises de Louis XIV à l'Empire", Edizioni Polistampa, 2013, Florence, p. 339.
An Empire gilt-bronze mantel clock, attributed to Claude Galle (1759-1846), after a drawing by Jean-André Reiche (1752-1817)
Jean-André Reiche filed the project of this clock in 1807. A copy with a green marble base and signed by Claude Galle, rue Vivienne in Paris, the Emperor's official supplier, is kept in the François Duesberg Museum in Mons, Belgium.
A clock of the same model, from the collection of Mrs Brooke Astor, was sold at Sotheby's New York on 24-25 September 2012, lot 28. More recently another one sold at Artcurial on 20-21 May 2019, lot 365.