A fine gilt-bronze and patinated bronze mantel clock signed LACROIX / A PARIS. Louis XV

the white enamel dial with bue Roman numerals, the movement and the dial signed LACROIX A PARIS, the drum case surmounted by a monkey handeling an umbrella, raised on the back of an elephant with raised trunk, on a shaped rocaille base cast with applied flowers and snail and lizzard. 42cm. high, 33cm. wide, 20cm. deep; 1ft.4in., 1ft.¾in., 7¾in. Estimate 35,000—50,000 GBP

PROVENANCE: Sold Paris Ader, Picard, Tajan, December 17 1983, lot T

NOTE: Jean-Baptiste Baillon, clockmaker to Queen Marie Leczinska 1751, and lter to Queen Marie-Antoinette.

Clocks mounted on the back of exotic animals became extremely popular after about 1749. Baillon provided movements for a number of such clocks, identical or virtually identical to the offered lot.

An identical example with movement by Baillon is in the Residenz, Bemberg, reproduced, Vergoldete Bronzen, 1986, Vol. I, p. 124, fig. 2.8.5. Aother fitted with an ormolu elephant was sold, Sotheby's London, June 26, 1964, lot 77, reproduced. A third example, once in the collection of the Duc de Mortemart, the case surmounted by a dog and a bird, was sold from the collection of Mrs. Anna Thomson Dodge, Christie's London, June 24, 1971, lot 39, reproduced. A fourth example, the case surmounted by a putto and raised on a musical movement is reproduced, Britten, Old Clocks and Watches, 1973, p. 215, pl. 144.

Sotheby's. Important Continental Furniture, Ceramics and Clocks. 02 Dec 08. London - www.sotheby's.com