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Framed medallion
Claude Michel, called Clodion (French, 1738–1814)
Frame attributed to: Pierre II Germain (French, 1703–1783)
Frame attributed to: Pierre II Germain (French, 1703–1783)
French (Paris)
1776
Object Place: Europe, Paris, France
Medium/Technique
Metal; silver frame, gold
Dimensions
Overall: 12.6 x 10.6 x 11.9 cm, 6.5 oz. (4 15/16 x 4 3/16 x 4 11/16 in., 0.41 lb.)
Credit Line
Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. Collection
Accession Number1993.448
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSilver
DescriptionAn oval gold medallion with a repousse scene of two fisherman in a rocky landscape. In an oval silver frame with a bead and reel molding on the inside, laurel garland on the outside, the suspension ring formed of 2 branches of berried laurel. A hinged strut with pierced trellis motif.
Signed
MICHEL
Marks
Maker's Mark: a crowned fleur-de-lys, 2 grains, PG, a sprout (Nocq II p 248): Bottom rim of frame. Warden's mark: 1776-1777: a crowned N (Dennis 16): Bottom rim of frame. Charge Mark: for small work, 1775-1781, PARIS in the form of a cypher (Dennis 17): Bottom rim of frame. Discharge Mark: for small work, 1775-1781: a monkey's head (Dennis 17): Bottom rim of frame. General Countermark: 1781-1783, clasped hands (Dennis 201): Bottom rim of frame. Guarantee mark: for small silver work, 1798-1809, fasces with ax blade at top left (Rosenberg IV p 204): left rim of frame. Verification Mark: Paris general verificationof 1809, a right ear (Beuque I #231 p 27): suspension ring. Verification Mar k: Paris general verification of 1819, a natural lily in an oval shield (Beuque I #919 p 104): suspension ring. Verification Mark: Paris Verification of 1838, a giraffe's head (Beuque I #449 p 51): suspension ring. Illegible mark, partially effaced: Bottom rim of frame. "344" engraved on strut.
Inscriptionssigned MICHEL
Provenance1907, Joseph Bardac, Paris. 1922, Alphonse Kann (b. 1870 - d. 1948), St. Germain-en-Laye, France. 1960, Richard Peñard y Fernandez; December 7, 1960, Peñard y Fernandez sale, Paris, lot 203, probably to Jacques Helft, Paris, for 15,000 fr.; January 1961, sold by Helft to S. J. Phillips, London; February 7, 1962, sold by Phillips to Elizabeth Parke (Mrs. Harvey S., Jr.) Firestone (b. 1897 - d. 1990), Newport, RI; 1993; gift of the estate of Elizabeth Parke Firestone and Harvey S. Firestone, Jr. to the MFA. (Accession Date: May 26, 1993)