01/17/2026 General, English & Continental Furniture & Decorations
NEW YORK, NY -- The January 29 auction of English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts showcases a selection of exceptional French clocks from a Distinguished Private Collection, highlighted by a large and rare Louis XV gilt-bronze cartel clock signed Hardel a Paris, circa 1755 (Lot 306). Parisian clockmaker Louis-Michel Hardel (also called Harel), received as Maître Horloger in 1753, supplied high-end clock movements to the bronzeworking ateliers that defined the Rococo style. Cartel clocks of this sculptural richness often originated from workshops associated with Jacques Caffieri, Philippe Caffieri, or Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain, whose dynamic compositions remain icons of Louis XV decorative arts. This example is notable for its lively figural group, well-preserved original gilding, and the sophisticated scrolls and foliate ornament. Clocks of this type were intended for grand reception rooms and represent the height of mid-18th-century Parisian luxury.
Auction Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 10am
Exhibition January 24 – 26
View Lot 306
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