Sphinges clock in chased, gilded and patinated bronze and statuary white marble, the oblong base decorated with friezes of pearls, palmettes, lion's head in its center and medallion in low relief representing Venus and Love, supporting two winged sphinxes surmounted by leafy pine cones on which rests the octagonal case surmounted by Love holding in a hand a scepter ended by a pine cone, seated on a cushion with fine falls of leafy flowers, the circular white enamelled dial with Arabic numerals in black and garlands of polychrome flowers signed A Paris (Restorations to the base and chips) Attributed to Pierre GOUTHIÈRE (1732-1813). Louis XVI period. Height : 54 54 - Width : 48 - Depth : 13 cm Provenance : Count James-Alexandre de Pourtalès (1776-1855) or his son Count Jacques-Robert de Pourtalès (1821-1874), then by descent. Note: The octagonal shape of the dial, its decoration of winged sphinxes, Love and Venus can be compared to the Belvedere of Trianon made for Queen Marie-Antoinette between 1778 and 1781 as well as to the gilded salon of the Queen in Versailles, decorated by Richard Mique in 1783, in which the motif of winged sphinxes is omnipresent in the woodwork or the andirons. Gouthière Pierre (1732-1813): Gilding chiseller, he was appointed in 1767 "only ordinary gilder of the Menus-Plaisirs of the king", he counted among his clients the Countess du Barry, the Duke of Aumont and the Duchess of Mazarin before becoming the supplier of the crown and in particular of Marie-Antoinette. In view of the quality of his chasing and the presence of the characteristic lion's head found on several of his works, our clock can be attributed to him. Related clock: A similar clock with gilded sphinxes appeared in the sale of the Beistegui collections at the Château de Groussay, sale Sotheby's / Poulain Le Fur, June 2 -6, 1999, lot 243. Bibliography : Vignon - Baulez, Pierre Gouthière - ciseleur - doreur du roi, Mare et Martin, 2016. Expert: Mr Cédric Hénon. A summary note presenting additional research carried out by the current owner of the clock is available on request.