The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 635

?Louis XIV Boulle Clock? Gilles Martinot, a Paris. Made circa 1700. Very fine, Louis XIV, three-train, quarter striking, ormolu-mounted tortoiseshell and brass Boulle marquetry bracket clock.

C. Regency form with arched cornice surmounted by an ormolu foliate cresting, ormolu border and four urn and flower finials, above, a lambrequin cornice, the body of the case glazed on three sides, the canted corners with mask and scroll mounts, raised on a scroll base with a shell and flower mount in the center, on ormolu toupie feet; the whole finely veneered in marquetry in brass on grounds of red tortoiseshell forming foliate scrolls, foliate corner mounts, ormolu finial of a figure of a child in classical drapery holding aloft a fruit. D. Ormolu with white enameled cartouches, radial blue Roman numerals, outer minutes with every minute numbered, chased and engraved lambrequin center with a profile portrait of Louis XIV flanked by sun and fleur-de-lys cornucopiae, gilt bronze mask below decorated with two female figures of Flora and Urania flanking a winged cherub holding a pair of dividers over a globe. Wellpierced blued steel hands. M. Rectangular, 150 x 170 mm, brass, three massive spring barrels for the going and striking trains, anchor escapement, steel rod brass-bob pendulum with spring suspension, two count wheels on the back plate for the hour and quarter striking, on three bells with three hammers. Dial and movement signed. Dim. Height 72 cm, 37 cm, depth 13 cm.