9
M
xrrrz
r z-/
x/,Y ?
r"è*âJ
Robin - Coteau - Thomire
Exceptional Regulator clock with Remontoir
"Royal model", Louis XVI period
'
.9t rl. a%,*-.é - 7f o a I %z
æZ o/ 4a a/ 44 15 - -V**' a/ 45 6/ 44 54
y's4 . tzttu /ro
@
9
M
xrrrz
r z-/
x/,Y ?
r"è*âJ
Robert Robin (1741-1799),
Became Master Horologist in November 1767
Joseph Coteau (1740-1801),
Became Master Enameller of the Académie de Saint Luc in 1766
Case attributed to Pierre-Philippe Thomire
Exceptional Regulator clock with Remontoir "Royal model"
Paris, early Louis XVI period, circa 1775
Height 41 cm; width 22.5 cm; depth 17.5 cm
This desk or mantel regulator with remontoire and constant force escapement is one of the most extraordinary
horological creations made in Paris during the second half of the 18th century. Its Neoclassical architectural case is
made of finely chased gilt bronze; it is glazed on all four sides, allowing the pendulum and movement to be viewed.
The case features ornamental motifs, including a floral frieze on the moulded cornice, beaded ormolu mounts on the
entablature and the bezel, acanthus leaves framing the dial, friezes of stylised foliage, a foliate frieze highlighting the
base and a magnificent chased drapery under the dial. The dial, signed Robin à Paris, is a veritable work of art,
executed by Joseph Coteau, the most famous enameller of the time. It has Roman numeral hours and Arabic
numerals for the minutes, seconds, date, months, and equation of time. The signs of the Zodiac are represented in
grisaille within gilt-framed cartouches linked by delicately painted polychrome flower garlands.
This clock may be considered an example of the quintessence of Parisian luxury horology during the reign of Louis
XVI, when it was appreciated by a handful of elegant connoisseurs who were often close to the royal family.
Historical documents occasionally allow us to better understand who these discerning collectors were. One clock,
similar to the present example, was briefly described in the probate inventory of Denis-Pierre-Jean Papillon de la
Ferté, director of the Menus Plaisirs du Roi. It later appeared in the sale of his collection in February 1797, as
follows: “305. A square clock, with glazed panels, beating the half-seconds, with equation, remontoire, and striking,
made by Robin”. A second clock had been described several years previously (shortly after the Revolution) in an
inventory of horological pieces belonging to Queen Marie-Antoinette that had been looked after and maintained by
Robin. In that inventory there was mention of a model that is virtually identical to the present clock: “28. A square
clock with architectural case, glazed panels, in gilt and matted copper, with a compensation pendulum, movement
indicating the hours, minutes, seconds, with striking, date, day of the week, the signs of the Zodiac painted in
miniature on the dial, signed by Robin” (see P. Verlet, Les bronzes dorés français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1999, p.
466).
Only a few similar examples are known today. Most bear the signatures of the clockmaker Robin and the enameller
Coteau. The two men probably worked on the clock at the request of one of the influential marchand-merciers of the
time such as Simon-Philippe Poirier or his associate Dominique Daguerre, then the most important suppliers of
Parisian luxury goods. Among the known Robin clocks, one example, now in a private collection, is illustrated in D.
Roberts, Precision Pendulum Clocks, 2004, p. 32. Two other regulators, whose cases are attributed to the
renowned bronzier Pierre-Philippe Thomire, and which were formerly in the Winthrop Kellogg Edey collection, are
now in the Frick Collection in New York (Inv. 1999.5.150 and 1999.5.151). They are illustrated, respectively, in
Tardy, La pendule française, 2ème Partie: Du Louis XVI à nos jours, Paris, 1975, and C. Vignon, The Frick
Collection Decorative Arts Handbook, New York, Scala, 2015. It is worth noting that outside of the Frick Collection,
La Pendulerie is the only international gallery to offer two such mantel regulators by Robin.
'
.9t rl. a%,*-.é - 7f o a I %z
æZ o/ 4a a/ 44 15 - -V**' a/ 45 6/ 44 54
y's4 . tzttu /ro
@
9
M
xrrrz
r z-/
x/,Y ?
r"è*âJ
Our opinion:
Rive Droite
Artist Biography :
Robert Robin (1741-1799) is one of the most important Parisian clockmakers of the last third of the 18th century.
Having received the prestigious titles of Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire du Roi et de la Reine in 1783 and
1786, he had an extraordinary career, during which he distinguished himself by making important contributions to
the improvement of time measurement.
In 1778 the French Académie des Sciences approved two of his inventions, one of which led to the construction of
an astronomic clock representing a meridian drawn on a pyramid, which was acquired that year by the Menus
Plaisirs on behalf of Louis XVI. Robin published a very detailed historical and mechanical description of the clock.
He also constructed astronomic mantel regulators with compensation balances, which the Marquis de Courtanvaux
- one of the period’s most important connoisseurs of precision horology - was among the first to acquire. During the
Revolution he made decimal watches and clocks. He is recorded successively at Grande rue du Faubourg SaintHonoré (1772), rue des Fossés-Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois (1775), rue Saint-Honoré à l'Hôtel d'Aligre (1778) and in
the Galeries du Louvre in 1786.
For his regulator desk clocks, Robin selected sober architectural cases, which today appear extremely modern. He
always worked with the best artisans of his time, including the bronze casters and chasers Robert and Jean
Baptiste Osmond; Pierre Philippe Thomire; François Rémond; and Claude Galle, the cabinetmakers Jean-Henri
Riesener; Ferdinand Schwerdfeger; and Adam Weisweiler, the enamellers Barbezat; Dubuisson; Merlet; and
Coteau for the dials, and the Richards and Montginot for the springs. Robert Robin’s two sons, Nicolas Robert
(1775-1812) and Jean-Joseph (1781-1856), were also excellent clockmakers who successfully continued their
father’s activity.
Joseph Coteau (1740-1801) came from Geneva but worked in Paris, where he was established in the rue Poupée,
St. André des Arts ; he became a maître in 1778. In 1780 he was appointed Peintre-émailleur du roi et de la
Manufacture Royale de Porcelaine de Sèvres ; over the next few years he did piece-work there while working as an
independent painter in Paris, specializing in enamel watchcases and clock dials. By 1784 he was no longer
working for Sèvres and continued to supply fine dials, plaques and enamel cases to important Parisian
clockmakers.
Pierre-Philippe Thomire (1757-1853) was the most important Parisian bronzier of the last quarter of the 18th
century and the first decades of the following century. Early on in his career he worked for Pierre Gouthière,
ciseleur-fondeur du roi, and toward the mid-1770’s began working with Louis Prieur. He later became one of the
bronziers attached to the Manufacture Royale de Sèvres, creating the bronze mounts for most of the important
creations of the day. After the Revolution, he purchased the stock of Martin-Eloi Lignereux, thus becoming the most
important suppliers of furniture bronzes for châteaux and Imperial Palaces. In addition, he worked for a wealthy
private clientele, both French and foreign, including several of Napoleon’s Marshals. Thomire retired in 1823.
'
.9t rl. a%,*-.é - 7f o a I %z
æZ o/ 4a a/ 44 15 - -V**' a/ 45 6/ 44 54
y's4 . tzttu /ro
@