Object Description
A Fine Gilt-Bronze and Sèvres Style Porcelain Mounted Figural Clock By Japy Frères.
French, Circa 1880.
Stamped ‘4800 MF’ and ’55’ with Japy Freres & Cie Medaille d’Honneur pastille mark, the gilt bronze stamped ‘LC’.
The eight-day twin-train movement striking on the half and full hour, counting the hours.
This fine clock has a gilt-bronze and bleu celeste ground Sèvres style porcelain portico form case, with a finely cast gilt-bronze figure of a dancing maiden with a tambourine and attendant putto.
The jewelled circular porcelain dial is centred by a reserve of two winged cherubs on the back of a recumbent lion, against a blue celeste ground with enamel Roman numerals.
Frédéric Japy (1749-1812) was apprenticed in Montbeliard to his clockmaker uncle, and returned to his home town of Beaucort, setting up as a clockmaker, and an organiser of local clockmakers into a company – the company expanded and were medal winners at many of the International Exhibitions throughout the 19th century under the aegis of his sons, eventually closing after the First World War.