Clock; France, late 19th century.

Clock; France, late nineteenth century.
Gilded bronze and enameled porcelain.
It has Brocot suspension.
Preserves pendulum and key.
Signed: Marin (sculpture); Japy Frères (machinery); DeLafontaine Fabrique de bronzes (dial).
Measurements: 47.5 x 22 x 15.5 cm.
Table clock of sculptural conception that ends in the bust of a young lady who turns her face elegantly, providing greater three-dimensionality to the piece. 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.