THE CASE BY OSMOND, THE MOVEMENT BY GILLE L'AINE, PARIS, CIRCA 1780

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. 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 (Peter Hughes, 'French Fashion at Petworth', Apollo, September 2008, p. 63, pl. 5). See also H. Ottomeyer & P. Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, vol. I, Munich, 1986, p. 194, fig. 3.12.3.