Table clock, Philippe Caffieri, Paris, 1742-1745
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1742-1745
Table clock, Philippe Caffieri, Paris, 1742-1745 is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated 1742-1745. The museum's brief description reads: Clock in the form of an elephant, gilded bronze, French, 1742-1755 (with later alterations), the case by Jacques or Philippe Caffieri, the movement signed by Jerome Martinot, the striking train signed by ?Alexis Magny and the dial signed by A.-N. Martinière. Museum description: Case: The drum of chased gilded bronze, scroll design, surmounted by the seated figure of a draped monkey holding up a parasol with his right hand and a horn in his left; the drum rests on the back of a bronze elephant standing on a base of gilded bronze rockwork. The quality of the chasing is very high; the central plant on the base has been cast as a separate feature. The slightly reddish patina of the elephant is characteristic of 18th century work. A rectangular ebony stand with gilded bronze mounts that accompanied the clock when it entered the collection is probably a later addition. Dial: 17.8cm (diameter), white enamel, with all marking in blue. The hours are written in roman numerals, with large arabic numerals outside every fifth minute. Large winding holes are pierced to the lower corners of III and VIII. There is a small regulator hole in the centre of XII, with pierced… The museum record gives material recorded as ormolu, bronze, ebony, enamel, gilt-brass; measurements Height 65 cm; Width 44 cm; Depth 29 cm; place associated: Paris; maker recorded: Philippe Caffieri, Jacques Caffieri. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
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.
Historical context
Elephant table clock, the case and movement signed by different craftsmen. The case proclaims it was 'made by Caffieri', while the movement is signed by Jerome Martinot (1671-1724), the enamelled dial has been signed on the back by Antoine-Nicola Martinière and a spring in the movement has the signature of 'Magny' (perhaps Alexis Magny). The number of signatures reflects how such clocks were assembled by 'marchands merciers' (or 'luxury goods merchants') in Paris who commissioned works of art which combined contrasting luxury materials including bronze, horn, porcelain and ormolu. Such elaborate clocks often included an organ in the base, although this does not survive for the V&A example. Other mid-eighteenth-century clocks incorporate elephants in ormolu (gilded bronze) or Meissen porcelain, or lions in Chinese porcelain. Only three clocks cast entirely in bronze like this one have survived, and it has been argued that the V&A clock is the earliest example. Although the surface chasing on the V&A's example is not of the highest quality, this may be explained by the later regilding which covers the original chased surface. When it entered the Museum in 1882, the clock stood on a later ebony base with gilded bronze mounts and the dial, despite Martinière's eighteenth-century signature, may well have been re-enamelled in the nineteenth century. The different craftsmen responsible for this clock all enjoyed royal or aristocratic patronage. The spring-maker Alexis Magny…
Physical characteristics
- Material
- ormolu, bronze, ebony, enamel, gilt-brass
- Dimensions
- Height 65 cm; Width 44 cm; Depth 29 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Gilded bronze, the dial possibly re-enamelled in the nineteenth century; cast bronze elephant.
- Maker recorded
- Philippe Caffieri, Jacques Caffieri
- Place recorded
- Paris
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- Engraved on the case, below the clock face, in French: 'fait par Caffieri'; Engraved on the movement, in French: 'Jerome Martinot AParis'; Painted on the back of the enamelled dial: 'Antoine-Nicola Martinière, 1742'; Engraved on a spring, 'Magny 1743'.
Identification
- Museum object name
- Table clock
- Museum object number
- 1008:1-1882
- Museum system number
- O120204
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: confirm materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the holding institution and a specialist reference.