Important Cartel On Sheath In Boulle Marquetry: Protective Minerva Of The Arts, By Thuret

Very large cartel on sheath 245 cm high in rich marquetry of brown tortoiseshell and partly brass and counterpart. The cartel abundantly adorned with gilded and chiseled bronzes is crowned with Minerva. Sitting on her armor and shield adorned with the head of Medusa, she holds in her hand a feather and a terrestrial globe. A symbol of power also depicted on the statue of the patron goddess of Rome at the Palazzo Senatorio in Capitoline Square. At the cushioning of the top are four finely chiseled bobeches and in the center a face of helmeted Lupercus surmounted by a winged Sphinx. The domed glass door reveals a dial with midnight blue Roman numerals. At the base and in front of the cartel a face of laughing fauna. On the sides of the clock are stylized female faces and in the lower part the attributes of war referring to Minerva: sword, quiver and trumpet. On the back, on the door, we discover a Bérain decoration of lambrequins, volutes, sphinxes and peacocks made in Boulle marquetry in return, that is to say whose bottom is in copper and not in scales. On the other side of the door, the same decoration is exactly present, in part this time, that is to say at the bottom of scales. Inside, the balance with the face of the Child Sun King. The sheath has abundant marquetry on its three sides. This remarkable and abundant decoration of foliage, bouquets, flowers and fantastic animals is also in the style of Bérain. The top and the base of the sheath are surrounded by chiseled gilt bronze rods. At the amortization and framing a face of fauna are present a Telamon and a caryatid. This impressive piece with a total height of 245 cm is signed by Thuret in Paris, a family of watchmakers descended from Isaac Thuret, watchmaker to Louis XIV. The mechanism is in working order, strikes the hours and half-hours. Napoleon III period.