Historicist clock. France, c. 1890

Historicist clock. France, c. 1890
Gilt bronze, patinated bronze and white marble. Hand-painted porcelain dial, enameled.
With Brocot suspension
Signed "Japy Fréres et Cie".
Retains pendulum and key.
Presents faults and breakage in the lateral zone.
Measurements: 70 x 70 x 24,5 cm.

French gilt bronze table clock with base and ornamentation in white marble. The marble base, has a rectangular structure with sharp-edged profiles. A strip of gilded bronze gives way to the body also of marble, which retains the same structure as the base, although in this case the ornamentation is greater. Garlands of flowers made of bronze are superimposed on the body, and finish off the lower part of the watch case designed with a white dial with Roman numerals in black and openwork hands. Finally, the piece ends with the sculptural presence of two children represented as lovebirds accompanied by a dog.
The firm Japy Frères, one of the most prestigious in Europe in the late nineteenth century, founded in the middle of the century by Frédéric Guillaume, Louis Frédéric and Jean Pierre, sons of the renowned watchmaker Frédéric Japy, who had long before laid the foundations of modern watchmaking.

The bronze table clocks of the 19th century were key pieces in decoration and interior design, as well as symbols of social status and refinement. Elaborately crafted and often adorned with artistic motifs, these clocks not only served to measure time, but also reflected the technical advances and taste for fine craftsmanship of the time. Bronze, a durable and aesthetically appreciated material, allowed the creation of complex and elegant forms, integrating styles such as neoclassical or rococo, which made them highly valued objects in the residences of high society.