French mantel clock, the 'Amerindian hunter' à Paris, circa 1800.

An important French mantel clock, the "Amerindian Hunter", à Paris circa 1800.
A fine sculputural clock, case patinated and gilt bronze, with matte and burnished finishing. Signed on dial “ à Paris”. The sculpture represents a hunter, one of the indigenous people of North America witch are are sometimes called Amerindians. The hunter wears red coral earrings. The clock has an eight-day movement that strikes a bell on the hour and half hour. Period: Directoire-Consulate, circa 1800.
Dimentions: Height 56.5 cm Width 42 cm Depth 13.5 cm.
Price on request.

Literature:

G. et A. Wannenes, "Les plus belles pendules françaises", de Louis XIV à l'Empire", p. 315.

"Musée François Duesberg", Arts décoratifs 1775-1825, p. 59.

Context.

In the late 18th century, philosophers and writers inspired a return to nature and the virtues of the "noble savage." The writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, "Paul et Virginie" by Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe, the novel "Les Incas" by Marmontel, "Atala" by Chateaubriand, and others came to the forefront.

This trend was also reflected in French decorative arts and watchmaking. The design of this clock, the "Amerindian Hunter" originated in this context and is a sublime example.

Description

The round enamel dial, indicates the Roman numeral hours and the Arabic fifteen-minute intervals by means of two bronze hands. It is housed in a finely chased and gilt bronze case with matte and burnished finishing. The clock is surmounted by the figure of a black hunter wearing a feather headdress and a feather loincloth who is holding a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right hand, with a quiver of arrows slung across his chest. He is sitting on a sloping rectangular form decorated with a lion’s head, which is placed in a ship with a wolf’s head figurehead. It stands on a terrace adorned with naturalistic waves. The quadrangular base with concave sides is decorated with applied motifs including palmettes, scrolls, and torches; its façade is embellished with an elaborate high-relief scene depicting rocks, a hut, and palm trees, among which four little boys dressed in loincloths are hunting, fishing, and resting with their dog.