Louis XV Wall-mounted Cartel Attributed To Jean-joseph De Saint-germain.

Important wall-mounted cartel clock in finely chiseled bronze, with abundant rocaille decoration, typical of the great Parisian productions of the mid-18th century. The white enameled dial is signed BUNON À PARIS, a clockmaker active under Louis XV. It indicates the hours in Roman numerals and the minutes in Arabic numerals, using openwork gilt bronze hands, finely cut in the manner of the models of the 1750s–60s. The mechanical movement with a striking gong is original. It is wound through two holes visible on the dial. The whole is in perfect working order and presentation. The bronze case presents an asymmetrical and dynamic composition, characteristic of the Parisian rocaille style, with a very pronounced central scroll, framed by flowers in relief, foliage, acanthus foliage and animated garlands. The background is decorated with a brass plaque cut with a floral motif on red fabric. This cartel bears a striking resemblance to a model preserved at the Geneva Museum of Art and History (inv. 006597), made by Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain, one of the greatest bronze casters of the reign of Louis XV. The dimensions, the general composition, the arrangement of the floral elements and the decorative scrolls are identical, although the background does not have the same openwork brass plates; this may be a variant, and the watchmaker's signature differs (Pierre II Gille for the Geneva model). It is therefore highly likely that this cartel is a work from the same molds or directly made in the Saint-Germain workshop, on behalf of another Parisian clockmaker. This type of cartel, both refined and imposing, was intended for aristocratic or ceremonial bourgeois interiors. The quality of the chiseling, the richness of the materials and the attribution to a master bronze caster such as Saint-Germain make it a museum collector's item. Dimensions: Height: 90 cm Width: 50 cm Depth: 18 cm