ID 791818
Lot 21 | A MONUMENTAL ORMOLU-MOUNTED DOCCIA PORCELAIN TABLE-CLOCK
Estimate value
£ 300 000 – 500 000
CIRCA 1777
Modelled as a temple of rectangular section, attributed to Giuseppe Ettel, after a design by Giuseppe del Moro, each side with two hinged pierced grill doors enclosed by blue-ground gilt and white Greek key-pattern borders, the canted buttress corners at the front with pendant bouquets above figures adapted from models by Gaspero Bruschi, one emblematic of Music, on large foliate-scroll supports, the white enamel dial with dark-blue Roman hour chapters and outer Arabic minutes enclosed by ormolu chased with shells, the pierced porcelain panels below modelled in low relief with putti holding sheet music and playing musical instruments, above a Vitruvian scroll border and stepped ribbon-tied garland lower part resting on yellow twin-paw feet, the projecting entablature above the dial supporting a scrolling cartouche with cornucopias flanking a central oval medallion painted in puce with a dancing nymph, the vase finials at the corners modelled with flowers, the pieced domed top with similar Greek pattern borders at the sides and surmounted by a winged bearded figure emblematic of Time
56 1⁄2 in. (143.6 cm) high excluding Time’s scythe
Provenance
Almost certainly one of the two clocks commissioned by don Michele Imperiali, Prince of Francavilla (IV) and Marquis of Oria (1719-1782), and delivered to him in Naples in early 1778.
Acquired in Rome by Doña Josefa Gómez de Arámburu, Marquise of Villapesadilla, in circa 1902, and thence by descent to the present owner.
Literature
Rita Balleri, ‘Orologio monumentale da tavolo / A monumental table clock’, in Amici di Doccia, Quaderni XIII, 2020, p. 181, fig. 1.
Special notice
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
| Manufactur: | Doccia Porcelain Factory |
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| Applied technique: | Ormolu, Pottery |
| Medium: | Ceramic, Gold, Porcelain |
| Place of origin: | Italy, Europe |
| Auction house category: | All other types of objects, Clocks - Furnishings |
| Manufactur: | Doccia Porcelain Factory |
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| Applied technique: | Ormolu, Pottery |
| Medium: | Ceramic, Gold, Porcelain |
| Place of origin: | Italy, Europe |
| Auction house category: | All other types of objects, Clocks - Furnishings |
| Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
| Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |



















