Restoration of the Clio and Urania mantel-clock by Jean-André Le Paute

In the year 2002 several remarkable clocks that had been restored in the Laboratory for Scientific Restoration of Clocks and Musical Instruments (headed by M.P. Guryev) found their place in the Hermitage's displays. A special place among them is occupied by a mantel-clock created by Jean-Andre Le Paute (1720-1788), clockmaker to King Louis XVI of France.

This clock was commissioned by the Prince de Conde to adorn his palace. Hoping to add the title of "master to the Prince de Conde" to his honours, Le Paute created a true masterpiece, combining in a single work the latest achievements of Parisian bronzesmiths and clockmakers.

The enamel dial of the clock carries six concentric hands. Three of them show hours, minutes and seconds. The other three indicate the day of the week with the symbol of the corresponding planet, the date in the lunar month and the phase of the moon, the date and name of the month and the corresponding sign of the Zodiac. The clock mechanism requires winding every three weeks. It has an Amant movement and sounds the hours and quarters on two small bells.

The clock has a dramatic history. It was completed in 1776 and, after adorning the Prince de Conde's palace for a time, it disappeared during the French Revolution. Then it reappeared in Paris. In 1799 the clock was purchased for St Michael's Castle in St Petersburg, but in 1804 found its way into the Winter Palace. After 1917 it was dismantled and perhaps for that reason escaped the sales of the 1920s and 1930s.

Before the complex restoration began (restorers M.P. Guryev, I.S. Kamshilov, M.O. Kozlova, V.A. Molotkov, V.A. Stepanov, curator Yu.Ya. Zek), the clock was subjected to detailed study.

During the work the bronze of the body was cleaned of corrosion and grime, the lost bronze details were recreated on the basis of surviving examples, a missing fastening made and chips on the marble base filled in.

In the clock mechanism too missing parts were restored and chips on the dial filled in. The mechanism itself was cleaned of grime, corrosion and old oil, regulated and set working.

Clio and Urania
mantel clock
1776
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The restorer
V.A. Stepanov
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The restorer
O.Z. Zinatullin
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The dial of the clock
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