Description

Pendulum 'Le Portefaix' Au Bon Sauvage, France, c. 1815.

Bronze Design: Jean-André Reiche.

Fire Gilt and patinated bronze.

Eight-day movement with belslag empire on the hour and half hour.

The representation of true exotics at the time of the Directory, a very popular topic, with the interest and enthusiasm for life in the colonies overseas, in particular through travelogues and novels aroused. The model Portefaix, based on a design by Jean-Andre Reiche shows a dynamic porter. His torso is bare and black patina. On his back he carries the litter with a wicker basket that surrounds the harmonious movement.

Unlike the personifications of "America" and "Africa", which, like the goddesses of ancient mythology were represented, the "noble savage" This is a helpful and reliable guy. Here in the figure of Portefaix seems to be a background by anecdotal. Thus, the carrier is often called upon not only to transport goods, but sometimes also occurs as a messenger.

Compositional news is that the figure was designed as a freestanding sculpture in which movement of the cylinder is fully integrated.

Height: 38 cm
Width: 27 cm
Depth: 11 cm

Literature:
Pendulum Encyclopedia La Francaise, Pierre Kjelberg, 343rd page

Tardy II, 358th page

Elke Niehäuser: French bronze clock. A typology of figural representations, Munich 1997, p. 149

Origin and period

France

ABS-17 Pendule Directoire 'Le Portefaix' Au Bon Sauvage

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