Large Cartel In Boulle Marquetry And Gilded Bronzes Signed Fardouelle, 160 Cm

Violin cartel and its console in Boulle marquetry, abundant brass inlays. The important bronzes of the cartel are gilded. A rare scale: a total of 160 cm in height with the console. The gilded bronzes are particularly worked on this piece: floral motifs above the dial, chimeras on the damping of the 4 console feet, 4 busts of young women on both sides of the dial. The finely chiseled dial is made up of enamelled cartouches with Roman and Arabic numerals. It is signed "Fardouelle in Paris". The mechanism, also 18th century (the escapement was changed later) is also signed. At the top of the cartel sits Urania, muse presiding over astronomy and astrology. On the front, an unusual representation: Cephalus and Procris, a couple from Greek mythology. The console is decorated with very important gilded bronzes but also with an abundance of brass, 4 faces are placed at the corners. It also shows inlays of painted horn, white and silver mother-of-pearl. Cartel and its mechanism entirely from the beginning of the 18th century. The original mechanism has been overhauled by our watchmaker and works perfectly. "Cephalus, Thessalian prince, son of Deion and Diomedes had married Procris, one of the daughters of Erechtheus, king of Athens. She was of remarkable beauty. He inspired a lively passion in Eos (the Aurora); that -ci, to detach him from Procris, urged him to test the fidelity of his wife. For this purpose, he introduced himself near her, hidden under a disguise: having succeeded in seducing her, he drove her from his presence. Procris, ashamed, fled to Crete where Artemis gave her a dog and a magic javelin. Later Procris returned to her homes in the guise of an attractive young girl who offered herself love. of Cephalus in exchange for the gifts of the goddess. Cephalus accepted and Procris was then recognized. The two spouses therefore reconciled. Jealousy, however, gripped the heart of Procris, who thought that her husband was joining Eos on his hunting trips. One night, she followed him in secret. By mistake she moved a branch. Thinking that a game was hiding behind the foliage Cephalus threw his javelin and pierced the body of his dear Procris; despairing over this death, he killed himself with the same javelin." Total height: 160cm Cartel height: 105 cm Width: 50cm