Jean-Baptiste Helye Louis XVI 'Allegory of Maritime Commerce' mantel clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
18th century
This Louis XVI period Parisian mantel clock represents an allegory of maritime commerce, housed in a gilt-bronze sculptural case shaped like a boat upon waves. Resting on a white marble plinth with gilt-bronze floral and scroll mounts, the clock is flanked by a draped classical female figure and a turbaned Levant trader.
A winged putto and cargo motifs decorate the prow and deck. The white enamel dial is inscribed 'JN B.TE HELYE A PARIS' with Roman hour numerals and outer Arabic minute indicators, accompanied by two winding apertures.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Dimensions
- 48 cm x 40 cm x 19 cm
- Base Material
- White marble base with gilt-bronze ornaments
- Dial Signature
- Jn Bᵗᵉ Helye – à Paris
- Place recorded
- France
- Suspension Type
- Silk-thread suspension
- Maker / attribution
- Jean-Baptiste Helye
Design
- Visible features
- • White marble plinth supported by turned gilt feet and decorated with gilt-bronze friezes • Gilt-bronze boat-shaped case featuring a draped female figure on the left and a turbaned standing man on the right • Enamel dial with Roman hours, outer Arabic five-minute markings, pierced gilt hands, and two winding arbors • Visible hairline cracks on the enamel dial near the winding apertures
- Dial and Mechanism
- The timepiece features a white enamel dial signed 'Jn Bᵗᵉ Helye – à Paris'. It displays Roman hour numerals and is noted to have two winding apertures. The internal Paris movement, which also bears the signature of Jean-Baptiste Helye, is described as having a silk-thread suspension system and a strike mechanism for hours and half-hours on a bell. The bronze elements are finished with mercury gilding.
- Condition and Limitations
- The source describes the condition as having original gilding with minor age-related wear, and notes the presence of old hairlines on the enamel dial near the winding holes. The movement's internal state and timekeeping accuracy have not been tested over a long duration by the seller. The internal backplate and bell are not visible in the provided source photographs.
- Object Description and Iconography
- This Louis XVI period mantel clock is designed as an allegory of maritime trade. The gilt-bronze case is modeled as a boat resting upon waves, featuring a winged putto at the prow retrieving an anchor, alongside decorative elements representing barrels and bales. The central dial is flanked by two figures: a draped female deity on the left, identified in the source as likely representing Fortune or Abundance, and a standing man in turbaned Oriental attire on the right, interpreted as a representation of trade with the Levant. The entire assembly is set upon a white marble base decorated with gilt-bronze rosettes, scrolls, and floral motifs.
Identification
- Reference
- 1691419
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Movement backplate, striking bell, and internal mechanism are not visible in the provided photographs
- Research required: Functional state and timekeeping accuracy are untested by the source dealer