Louis XV Tortoiseshell Cartel Clock by Unknown artist
Scroll to zoom, click for slideshow

Louis XV Tortoiseshell Cartel Clock 1760

Unknown artist

Tortoise shellWoodOakGoldGilt
97 ⨯ 38 ⨯ 20 cm
Currently unavailable via Gallerease

  • About the artwork
    Fourteen day going train with anchor escapement. Striking train with locking plate, chimes on the full and half hours.
    The white enameled dial consists of 13 sections, with black Arabic numerals for the minutes and Roman numerals for the hours. Two openwork ormolu hands.

    The wooden casing is decorated with tortoiseshell on red paper and ormolu bronze fittings of extraordinary quality. The casing is signed at the back, bottom-right; B Lieutaud.

    The clockmaker François Viger [Rue st. Denis 1745-1783], regularly worked together with the ébeniste Balthasar Lieutaud [Maître march 20. 1749, died may 10. 1780]. Lieutaud was specialized in clock cases and worked in a pure Louis XV style and after 1770 in neo-classical style.

    Clocks by Lieutaud can, amongst others, be found in the collections of; Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris, Château de Versailles, Victoria and Albert Museum Londen, the Wallace Collection in London and the Frick Collection in New York.

    Signed on the dial; VIGER A PARIS
    Signed on the back of the clockwork; VIGER A PARIS, No: 809
    Signed on the back of the casing; B LIEUTAUD
  • About the artist

    It might happen that an artist or maker is unknown.

    Some works are not to be determined by whom it is made or it is made by (a group of) craftsmen. Examples are statues from the Ancient Time, furniture, mirroirs, or signatures that are not clear or readible but as well some works are not signed at all.

    As well you can find the following description:

    •“Attributed to ….” In their opinion probably a work by the artist, at least in part

    •“Studio of ….” or “Workshop of” In their opinion a work executed in the studio or workshop of the artist, possibly under his supervision

    •“Circle of ….” In their opinion a work of the period of the artist showing his influence, closely associated with the artist but not necessarily his pupil

    •“Style of ….” or “Follower of ….” In their opinion a work executed in the artist’s style but not necessarily by a pupil; may be contemporary or nearly contemporary

    •“Manner of ….” In their opinion a work in the style of the artist but of a later date

    •“After ….” In their opinion a copy (of any date) of a work of the artist

    •“Signed…”, “Dated….” or “Inscribed” In their opinion the work has been signed/dated/inscribed by the artist. The addition of a question mark indicates an element of doubt

    •"With signature ….”, “With date ….”, “With inscription….” or “Bears signature/date/inscription” in their opinion the signature/ date/ inscription has been added by someone other than the artist