Japy Freres Louis XVI Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock ~ French - Circa 1880 ~ ~~ Excellent condition, fully overhauled ~~ A magnificent late nineteenth-century French ormolu and Sèvres style porcelain mantel clock by the celebrated maker Japy Frères. The imposing architectural case is finely cast in gilt bronze and designed in the Louis XVI taste, the movement contained within a rectangular portico-form body flanked by a pair of elegant columns of cobalt-blue porcelain and enriched with delicate gilt decoration. Below the dial is a large porcelain panel, beautifully painted with a charming pastoral scene depicting a young mother and her child in an idyllic country landscape.

The circular porcelain dial is especially attractive, having individual white enamel Roman numeral reserves set against a rich blue ground. The centre is delicately painted with flowers and colourful garden birds, complemented by a fine pair of gilt-brass hands. A beaded ormolu bezel frames the dial.

The clock is surmounted by a particularly impressive covered porcelain urn, its deep cobalt-blue ground beautifully enriched with finely painted and gilded decoration. It is mounted within an elaborate ormolu framework, with bold scrolling handles, pendant floral garlands and finely modelled foliate supports, terminating above in a gilt-bronze flame finial.

The lower section is richly finished with a continuous band of crisply cast ornament, while the projecting base is raised upon finely turned ormolu feet. A further shaped cobalt-blue porcelain apron to the centre is decorated with intricate gilt ornament and a colourful floral motif.

The French movement is by Japy Frères, one of the most important and prolific French clockmaking houses of the nineteenth century. Japy Frères won numerous awards at the great international exhibitions and its movements were employed by many of France's finest casemakers and bronziers. It is in excellent clean and running condition having been fully overhauled by our clockmaker. Pendulum is original. It runs for 8 days and strikes the hours and halves on a bell. Click the video below to hear the bell and watch the clock running. Please note that clocks of this particular style were made without front or rear glasses, leaving the dial and movement open as originally intended.

Condition of the case is excellent, the original gilding is beautifully clean and bright with just slight wear and discolouration. The porcelain is also in excellent condition, there is a tiny chip to the edge of the urn, a small area of restoration near the 9 o'clock of the dial. A few porcelain 'jewels are missing, most notably on the right hand pillar. The surmounting urn sits slightly askew.

The overall effect is exceptionally decorative: the brilliant cobalt blue of the porcelain, delicate painted scenes and richly gilded bronze combine to create a clock of considerable presence and quality.

Japy Frères clockmakers mark on the movement backplate

Complete with original pendulum, bell and a suitable key. Full setting up instructions supplied if required.

Click the movie player below to see the this actual clock run -
(large file, may take a moment to start).