Comminges à Paris
An Empire gilt bronze mantel clock, Paris, date circa 1815-20
Height 42 cm, width 23 cm, depth 11.5 cm.
A very fine late Empire gilt bronze mantel clock by Comminges à Paris of eight day duration, signed on the white enamel chapter ring Comminges Palais Royal N.o 62, the dial with hour chapter ring with Roman numerals and outer indications for the minutes with a pair of blued steel Breguet style hands. The movement with anchor escapement, silk thread suspension, striking on the hour and half hour on a single bell and with a free-swinging pendulum with an unusual butterfly-shaped bob hanging below the drapery that surrounds the clock drum. The gilt bronze drum case, with a ribbon-tied berried dial bezel enwrapped in drapery and seemingly supported on the wings of a semi-nude Cupid with curly hair, who looking downward, holds the corner of the drapery in one hand and his bow in the other. The figure standing on a rectangular plinth, mounted at the front with a ribbon-tied floral and foliate swag, supported on bun feet
Paris, date circa 1815-20
Height 42 cm, width 23 cm, depth 11.5 cm.
This delightful Paris-made clock is one of a number of comparable examples from the same period, where the clock drum was held aloft on the back of a standing figure. Here we see it supported on the wings of Cupid, while in other instances, the drum maybe supported on the back of Harlequin or a travelling pedlar or musician.
Although little is known about Comminges à Paris, this was evidently a fine Paris clockmaking business listed in the commercial directories of the period as well as in Tardy. The dial notes its address as Palais Royal No 62, while, more specifically, Tardy lists it at the Galerie de Pierre at the Palais Royal. From about 1830 Comminges was based at Galerie Montpensier and then from about 1839 up until the 1850s it was listed in the Paris trade directories at 47 rue Richelieu. At the time of the clock’s creation, Comminges was based at the Palais Royal, which was a very prestigious location, set within an arcade of galleries that offered a variety of luxury goods for sale. The Palais Royal was originally built for Cardinal Richelieu in 1633. Ten years later the buildings were bequeathed to Louis XIV and then passed to the d’Orléans family. Shortly after 1785 the duc d’Orléans (Philippe Egalité) opened its gardens to the public and the buildings to the trade. Jewellers, watch and clockmakers alike were all keen to set up businesses within its precincts. Among them were such distinguished horologists as Leroy who at no 60 Galerie de Pierre, was adjacent to Comminges. Other clockmakers based there included Charles Oudin, while Kinable had also previously operated from under the same roof. It was not only the luxury trades that drew in the public but also the gambling halls; after they were ordered to be closed in 1836 far less people visited the Palais Royal. In turn, many of the former galleries moved to the grand boulevards, which is why Comminges relocated to rue Richelieu.