Ormolu is highly polished and selectively matted, it is marked on the reverse for the case maker / retailer Charles Hour. The side pieces are modelled as ovoid lidded vases with ormolu handles. They are decorated on both sides, ideal for display in the middle of a room or in front of a mirror. The French movement is by Japy Freres and is of high quality. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is an old replacement. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. Click the video clip below to hear the bell and watch the clock running! Condition of the case is excellent, the original gilding is beautifully clean and bright with just an occasional mark, wear or light scratch. The porcelain is also excellent with no damage. The overglaze gilt decoration is also very good with just some minor rubbing. Several of the white applied porcelain 'jewels' are missing. The clock is marked on the rear and on the dial back plate for the case maker / retailer Charles Hour of Paris. The movement is marked for the clockmaker Japy Frères and unusually also dated 1878 in a cartouche below the clockmaker's mark. Charles Hour is listed in Tardy, Dictionnaire Des Horloges. Charles Victor Hour was one of the co-founders of HOUR LAVIGNE which still produces some of the finest and most spectacular clocks today. He began as an apprentice at 11 years of age and Twenty years later he bought out a failing manufacture. In 1891 took on an associate - Diette. Together they became one of the most important clock makers in France. Hour then associated himself with Maurice Lavigne and by the end of the nineteenth century Hour Lavigne was the largest clock and timepiece manufacturer in France with over 800 employees. Japy Freres is the best known and probably the highest regarded of the French clockmaking companies, producing many thousands of fine Pendule de Paris movements. Frederic Japy was regarded as one of the Fathers of the French clockmaking industry in the nineteenth century followed by a dynasty of Japy family members. Based at Beaucourt and Badeval, the company grew from 1810 throughout the nineteenth century.
Complete with pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.
About us - All of our clocks are original antiques, we source most of our clocks in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. We prefer to buy our clocks in original 'dirty' condition. We then clean the cases using a technique we have developed over many years. We employ two qualified clockmakers who overhaul the movements. Movements are thoroughly tested until we are satisfied that they will run trouble free. |
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Click the movie player below to see the this actual clock
run -
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