THE DIAL AND MOVEMENT SIGNED FREDERIC DUVAL A PARIS, THE CASE ATTRIBUTED TO ROBERT AND JEAN-BAPTISTE OSMOND, CIRCA 1770

Maître-fondeur en terre et sable in 1746 and appointed juré des fondeurs in 1756, bronzier Robert Osmond (1711-1789) was a pioneer of the Neoclassical style in 1760s Paris. He worked with his nephew, Jean-Baptiste Osmond, maître in 1764, and the Osmonds produced 'pedestal' clocks in two versions: one, like the example offered here, with a neo-grèc vase to the top, and the other with billing doves. The latter model corresponds to a circa 1770 design in their Livre de desseins (Bibliothèque Doucet, Paris), no. 53 and priced at 198 livres. Other examples displaying the same design as the clock offered here include clocks at Petworth and the Royal Palace, Stockholm, see Peter Hughes, 'French Fashion at Petworth', Apollo, September 2008, p. 63, pl. 5 and H. Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, Munich, 1986, p. 194, fig. 3.12.3; and two made entirely of ormolu sold Christie's, New York, 24 October 2013, lot 555 and 6 July 2012, lot 33.