CHAUDET, ATTRIBUTED TO. - Lot 23

Lot 23
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Estimation :
100000 - 150000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 130 088EUR
CHAUDET, ATTRIBUTED TO. - Lot 23
CHAUDET, ATTRIBUTED TO. Extremely rare "L'OCEAN" ship's eagle. Gilt bronze, chased. The eagle holds the spindle in its right grip and rests on its case with the inscription "L'OCEAN" embossed on the case. On a half-round base chased with ovals and a double string of pearls. Mounted on a large green marble base. Total height on base: 57 cm. Height of eagle with socket: 47 cm. Height of eagle without socket: 38.5 cm. Chest: 7.5 x 15 cm. T.B.E. First Empire period. High quality chasing. Provenance : - Former Lévi collection - Former Bouché collection. - Jean Louis Noisiez collection. Related works: Two other known eagles of this type: - That of the "Tonnant", former Raoul and Jean Brunon collection. - One unnamed (and still bearing mounting holes for a figure). Unlocated. History: Pierre Charrié's analysis of this spectacular eagle is quoted in full: "We must mention an absolutely remarkable type of eagle about which we unfortunately have almost no documentation. These are the giant ship's eagles, of which only two specimens are known: that of the TONNANT (ex. R. and J. Brunon collection) and that of L'OCÉAN (ex. Lévi collection). These gilded bronze eagles are probably the work of Chaudet. However, they are totally different from the 1804 model. Firstly, in their size: 31 cm high without the base, and secondly, in the shape of the head and the arrangement of the wings. The box bears the name of the building in gilded letters, all resting on a papyrus-shaped base decorated with ovals separated by two rows of strings. As they were not provided for by any official decree, we don't know for what purpose they were given. In view of their weight, they could not be carried, and we assume that they must have been kept with the captain." In his analysis of imperial eagles, Jean Regnault hypothesizes that they were designed for admiralships (although he qualifies this hypothesis for the Tonnant, which was not a flagship). L'Océan is a French warship, a 118-gun ship of the line, in service from 1790 to 1855. First christened les États de Bourgogne (1786-1793), then la Côte d'Or (1793), la Montagne (1793-1795) and le Peuple (1795), she was finally renamed l'Océan in June 1795. She served as flagship on several occasions, notably for the expedition to Santo Domingo. Comparison of dimensions. - The "Ocean" eagle. Chased gilt bronze. Total height on base: 57 cm. Height with socket: 47 cm. Height without socket: 38.5 cm. Wing width: 30 cm. Casing: 7.5 x 15 cm. Cigar: 23 cm. - Eagle model 1804. Chased gilt bronze. Height with socket: 33.5 cm. Height without socket: 25 cm. Width of wings: 21 cm. Box: 4.5 x 12 cm. Cigar: 14 cm.
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