A Napoléon III Porcelain Clock Garniture

Object Description

A Fine Napoléon III Gilt-Bronze Mounted Porcelain Clock Garniture.

French, Circa 1870.

The movement stamped with the ‘Japy Frères ‘ cachet.

This fine porcelain clock set is decorated in the Japonisme style which was popular in France from the mid 1860’s and displays the influence of Japanese aesthetics on western decorative arts at this time.

The clock set has an architectural form clock with panels decorated with finely painted Chinoiserie figures and trailing blossoms. The clock is surmounted by an urn decorated with further blossom and finely modelled elephant head handles. The pair of lidded vases en-suite, are decorated in similar fashion and centred by finely painted figures.

The clock has a porcelain dial with roman numerals and fleur de lys hands. The two train eight-day Japy Frères movement striking the hours and halves on a bell.

Object History

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.

Object Details