Lenoir Clock with Meissen Harlequin Family, Vincennes Flowers and Fire-Gilt Bronze by Lazare Duvaux
Group of three harlequin figures from the Commedia dell'arte series for the Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, by Johann J. Kaendler and Peter Reinicke, Meissen 1744-50 / Lenoir clock, signed "Etienne LeNoir Paris", 1750 / Dimensions: 42 cm high; 31 cm wide; 18.5 cm deep / Fire-gilt bronze mount with Vincennes flowers
Provenance: Coll. Giuseppe Rossi, Turin. Since 1976 exhibited in his palazzo at Piazza San Carlo
The Lenoir family of watchmakers in Paris had been based in the Rue Saint-Honoré since the early 18th century, where most of the famous Marchands served the Parisian luxury goods market (Sargentson 1996 p. 20). The Marchand Mercier Lazare Duvaux, who put together our ensemble of clockwork, fire-gilt clock case, Meissen figurines and the Vincennes flowers, had his shop ‘Au Chagrin de Turquie’ very close by, in the Rue de La Monet (op. cit. p. 34).
Duvaux was the specialist of bronze mounted porcelains, the so-called ‘modelès fait exprès’ (op. cit. p. 52). He bore the title ‘marchand bijoutier ordinaire du roi’ (op. cit. p. 22). His best client was Mme. Pompadour, to whom he delivered a Lenoir Clock on 21st of August 1750 at the very high price of 1,080 livres. The description in his journal fits our clock exactly. The clock was intended as a gift for the Princess of Naples. In his Livre-Journal (p. 59) Duvaux writes:
‘Du 11. — Mme la Marq. de Pompadour: Une pendule fur groupe de Saxe, garnie en bronze doré d’or moulu avec des plantes & fleurs de Vincennes, le mouvement de Le Noir, à huit jours, pour Mme la Princesse de Naples, 1,080 1.’
All the Lenoir clocks we have been able to find, mounted together with Meissen porcelains and Vincennes flowers, are still in palaces and were formerly in princely possession. Due to the rarity, the exact description and the fact that our clock comes from Italian ownership (the art dealer Rossi bought art works from the collection of King Umberto II, see cat. Christie’s), it can be assumed that it is indeed the clock for the Princess of Naples.
