Gille L'aine
Provenance
Literature
Simon Fleet, "Clocks", 1961, p. 57, pl. XIII, illustrating a gilt bronze clock case of the same model but with a silvered horse and different classical scene within the painted medallion.
Tardy, "La Pendule Française", vol. II, 1975, p. 232, illustrating another clock case of the same model but with paste brilliants and painted medallion.
Hans Ottomeyer and Peter Pröschel, "Vergoldete Bronzen", 1986, p. 180, pl. 3.7.8 illustrating a pen and ink design from François Vion's workshop of 1770 (housed in the Bibliothèque Doucet, Paris) for a clock of an identical model. And p. 180, pl. 3.7.7. illustrating a clock case by François Vion of the same model but without the decorative lacquer work and paste brilliants and with a movement by Poitevin.
Elke Niehüser, "Die Französische Bronzeuhr", 1997, p. 242, pl. 901, illustrating a clock case of an similar model.
A very fine Louis XVI miniature gilt and patinated bronze pendule 'au cheval' of eight day duration by Gille L'Ainé, housed in a magnificent case by François Vion, signed on the white enamel dial Gille L'Ainé.
Paris, date circa 1770
François Vion was one of the leading bronziers of his day who became a maître in 1764. Apart from a few decorative gilt bronze accessories such as plinths for statuettes he appears to have specialized in the production of clock cases. As here a number were supported by animals, especially those featuring lions. Among them is one housing a movement by Gudin à Paris made for the Ministère d'Etat, which is now at the Ministry of Finance, Paris. Another pendule 'au lion' was delivered to Louis Joseph, Prince de Condé which was included in an inventory of the Palais Bourbon, 1779 while a further example is housed at Pavlovsk, St. Petersburg. Vion also made a number of cases with classical figures notably one representing The Three Graces, housing a movement by Lepaute à Paris which was made for the comtesse du Barry at Château de Fontainebleau and is now in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. The Musée Municipal, Besançon also owns a clock housed in a case by Vion surmounted by Venus and putti after a design by the sculptor Étienne Maurice Falconet, while the Wrightsman Collection in the Metropolitan Museum, New York owns a biscuit porcelain figure of Cupid by Falconet placed on a gilt bronze base by Vion.