Elephant table clock

myminifactory

Elephants frequently appeared in European art as a symbol of Africa's exoticism. In this artwork, an elephant is paired with a monkey dressed in attire meant to represent Chinese culture. It was common for interior decorators to combine disparate foreign elements in a whimsical and illogical manner. Scenes depicting monkeys mimicking human behavior were also popular. A rare example of an elephant table clock features intricate movement by Jerome Martinot (1671-1724) and a case crafted by Philippe Caffieri (1714-1774). The base was added later, while the dial is a replacement from the 19th century. Such elaborate clocks often included organs in their bases, showcasing the combined luxury materials like bronze, horn, porcelain, and ormolu. Other mid-18th-century clocks incorporated elephants in ormolu or Meissen porcelain, lions in Chinese porcelain, highlighting the eclectic nature of these timepieces. Jerome Martinot held the esteemed position of Valet de Chambre-Horloger Ordinaire du Roi to Louis XIV, succeeding his father Jean Martinot with whom he collaborated until 1702. Jerome's most notable creation was a moving armillary sphere made in conjunction with Thomas Haye, a renowned manufacturer of scientific instruments. The sphere was displayed at Versailles and Martinot received 400 Louis d'or from the king's private purse for this achievement on February 28th, 1701. Jerome Martinot was later certified insane in October 1718 and succeeded by his son Jean as Valet de Chambre-Horloger du Roi and Gouverneur du Grand Horloge du Palais. The movement of the table clock, although signed by Jerome Martinot, may have been supplied by his son Jean who regularly produced clocks for the royal household. The cases used by Jean often featured designs from notable craftsmen like J.Caffieri, E.J.Gallien, J.J., de Saint Germain, and A.L.Duval. This artwork is part of a larger collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The object is also featured in "Scan The World," a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory that aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures and artworks from around the globe for public access.