Style Other / Ref.12662

GUERET Frères, Important oak decorative clock with hunting theme, circa 1877

This important decorative oak clock with a hunting theme was most likely made around 1877 as shows the double signature on the dial “Guéret Frères / Guéret Jeune Seur / Paris” reminding the change of name this same year. Because of the automatic participation of the Guéret brothers to each exhibitions that rhythms the second half of the 19th century and the delicacy of the execution of the sculpted decoration, it is very likely that this decorative clock was exhibited during the International Exhibition of 1878 in Paris.

The dial presents the hours in Roman numbers, previously finely cut in brass, they are indicated by two brass hands. The dial is framed by a rich sculpted decor in relief with a hunting theme. We can notice two dogs sat back-to-back under the dial ; above it the head of a boar and hunt trophies and arms in a oak leaves decoration.

Denis-Désiré (born in 1828) and Onésime Guéret (born in 1830) create a factory of sculpted furniture in 1852 or 1853 at 7 rue Buffault in Paris under the name "Guéret Frères". Ten years later, the store is moved at 5 boulevard de la Madeleine, then at 216 rue Lafayette where it stays until the definitive closure. From 1877, the factory is managed by the youngest brother and becomes "Guéret Jeune et Cie", its activity continues until the end of the 19th century.
The Guéret brothers participate to each exhibitions from 1855, win a lot of rewards and a critic always eulogistic, like the one published in the Art Journal, about the International Exhibition of 1878 : “M. Gueret, a renowned cabinet-maker of Paris, contributed to the Exhibition a large number of admirable works, designed with rare Art power, and executed with refined delicacy, in various woods – generally in satin-wood inlaid – all possessing thorough artistic merit”. The excellency of their work for the sculpted furniture making, often rewarded, increases their orders book. Rich bourgeois but also renowned personality such as the Duke of Aumale, Napoléon III or even Mr Bryce, buyers of these sumptuous furniture, made some orders. Mr Bryce, for instance, ordered the realization of his whole furniture for his mansion on avenue Gabriel in Paris.