8th May, 2024 9:30
FINE ART & ANTIQUES
482
A RARE ARMAND COMPASS DIAL WITH A BALLOONING SCENE, FRENCH, SECOND HALF 18TH CENTURY
the dial signed Armand A PARIS, with a glazed dome top housing a white enamel compass bearing eight points, and the dial divided 6-12, 1-6, with gnomon and three supporting struts, mounted within a box with ornately decorated exterior, the interior with tortoiseshell inlay and ring, the underside of the lid with a gold-plated medallion finely engraved with a scene of a hot air balloon. 8cm diameter
Jacques Etienne Armand was a skilled sundial maker who apprenticed to Canivet in 1747. His career is recorded as spanning the years 1755-1780, but little is known of his life or the instruments he produced. The Montgolfier Brothers' first balloon flights captured the public imagination in France and were depicted in contemporary prints, which coincided with Armand's career. The presence of the ballooning scene within the box may have been a method of appealing to this emerging market.
Another Armand compass dial can be seen as a fob compass in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Object No. AST0336.
£600 - £800
Buyer's premium: 30.00%
the dial signed Armand A PARIS, with a glazed dome top housing a white enamel compass bearing eight points, and the dial divided 6-12, 1-6, with gnomon and three supporting struts, mounted within a box with ornately decorated exterior, the interior with tortoiseshell inlay and ring, the underside of the lid with a gold-plated medallion finely engraved with a scene of a hot air balloon. 8cm diameter
Jacques Etienne Armand was a skilled sundial maker who apprenticed to Canivet in 1747. His career is recorded as spanning the years 1755-1780, but little is known of his life or the instruments he produced. The Montgolfier Brothers' first balloon flights captured the public imagination in France and were depicted in contemporary prints, which coincided with Armand's career. The presence of the ballooning scene within the box may have been a method of appealing to this emerging market.
Another Armand compass dial can be seen as a fob compass in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Object No. AST0336.
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Auction: FINE ART & ANTIQUES, 8th May, 2024
Key items in our upcoming May sale feature a captivating study of nude figures by the renowned Belgian artist René Magritte (1898-1967), estimated at £10,000-15,000. Also showcased is a striking portrait of Miss Hilda Wilkinson by Leeds artist Jacob Kramer (1892-1962), anticipated to fetch £6,000-8,000. Adding to the allure is a pair of George I second-course dishes by Paul De Lamerie, estimated at £6,000-8,000. Noteworthy is a 1973 TVR 2550TM, sourced from a local deceased estate and offered without reserve, with an estimated value of £5,000-7,000. Lastly, don't miss the opportunity to acquire a rare Omega Speedmaster 'Pre-Moon' bracelet watch, estimated at £2,000-3,000.
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Sunday 5th May, 10am-1pm
Monday 6th May, 10am-1pm
Tuesday 7th May, 10am-4pm
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