Louis XV elephant clock

This mantle clock, which has been handed down in the Kampmann family eight times, is to be sold at the international auction at Bredgade.

Louis XV elephant clock of guilt and patinated gold, round clock case carried by elephant, two seated Oriental figures on top. Signed Chevallier Her. du Roy. France, about 1750. H. 70. B. 53.

International auction no. 757 Preview 24 – 29 May Auction 30 May –9 June

“The Kampmann clock” Louis XV elephant clock

The clock belonged to the family of architect Hack Kampmann and was passed down from oldest son to oldest son. The inventory of the Kampmann family’s possessions includes the following entry: The large French ‘Elephant’ bronze clock dating from around 1750 was made by Chevallier Her. du Roy, (clockmaker to the French court) probably to the order of the Tsar of Russia, as a companion to the present clock was to be found at the Hermitage Palace in Saint Petersburg until the revolution in 1919. The clock was probably sent by sea from France, as it was purchased at a wreck auction by Henrik Hacksen Kampmann (1716- 1795), who was the vicar of Skjæve. Since then, according to tradition, the clock has been passed down from family head to family head. The small mahogany cabinet upon which the clock stands was later made for the clock by Hack Kampmann (1747-1807) for Sneumgaard. The clock was shown at an exhibition arranged by the Copenhagen clockmakers’ guild.

The Kampmann family

Hack Henriksen Kampmann, 1674-1743, landlord
Henrik Hacksen Kampmann 1716-1795, vicar of Skjæve
Hack Kampmann 1747-1807, landlord
Niels Øllgaard Kampmann 1786-1828, landlord
Hack Kampmann, 1813-1878, councillor of state
Niels Øllgaard Kampmann, 1843-1914
Erik Pontoppidan Kampmann 1880-1942
Hack Kampmann 1913-2005, architect MAA and SAR
Hack og Karin Kampmann's five children

 

For further information, please contact:

Thomas Lembourn: +45 3343 6973 · t.lembourn@bruun-rasmussen.dk

Anders Fredsted: +45 3343 6964 · a.fredsted@bruun-rasmussen.dk