95th Auction
2017/5/6
Lot 241
Japy Fréres & Cie., Exposition 1855, Grande Méd. D'Honneur, Movement No. 795, Height 290 mm, circa 1860
A rare French carriage clock with hour self strike, hour repeater, alarm and singing bird automaton that activates on the hour
Case: bronze, firegilt, facet glazed on three sides. Dial: enamel. Movm.: rectangular brass movement, 3 barrels for going train, strike and alarm, 1 hammer/1bell, additional hammer for alarm, platform with cylinder escapement, ring balance. Singing bird automaton movement: housed in the base, wound through the side, lever for activation or deactivation and released at will wia pusher on base, with two wires operating the bird above.
This fine carriage clock by Japy Fréres with hour, half hour strike and alarm on a bell has a glazed case mounted on top showing a bird set amongst foliage with a metallized background. The bird is connected to the clock movement and at each hour pirouettes, moves his head, opens and closes his beak and wags his tail. It is wound independently of the main movement. A separate musical movement in the base is wound by a square to one side.
The gilt-bronze case has bold decorative corner mounts, cast decorative moldings, a stepped base with exaggerated corners, gadrooned balls and bun feet, mirrored doors above and below and the animated bird set within a naturalistic landscape in a simple glazed top section with a hinged handle.
Similar clocks are illustrated and described in: "Carriage and other Travelling Clocks" by Derek Roberts, Atglen 1993, p. 234f.
Japy Freres
Frederic Japy (1749-1812) founded the Japy watch- and chronometermaking dynasty Japy around 1770 in Beaucourt. Their pioneering use of machinery in the production of ebauches was a great success and the company existed until present days.
A similar clock is illustrated and described in: "Carriage and other Travelling Clocks" by Derek Roberts, Atglen 1993, p. 234.
A rare French carriage clock with hour self strike, hour repeater, alarm and singing bird automaton that activates on the hour
Case: bronze, firegilt, facet glazed on three sides. Dial: enamel. Movm.: rectangular brass movement, 3 barrels for going train, strike and alarm, 1 hammer/1bell, additional hammer for alarm, platform with cylinder escapement, ring balance. Singing bird automaton movement: housed in the base, wound through the side, lever for activation or deactivation and released at will wia pusher on base, with two wires operating the bird above.
This fine carriage clock by Japy Fréres with hour, half hour strike and alarm on a bell has a glazed case mounted on top showing a bird set amongst foliage with a metallized background. The bird is connected to the clock movement and at each hour pirouettes, moves his head, opens and closes his beak and wags his tail. It is wound independently of the main movement. A separate musical movement in the base is wound by a square to one side.
The gilt-bronze case has bold decorative corner mounts, cast decorative moldings, a stepped base with exaggerated corners, gadrooned balls and bun feet, mirrored doors above and below and the animated bird set within a naturalistic landscape in a simple glazed top section with a hinged handle.
Similar clocks are illustrated and described in: "Carriage and other Travelling Clocks" by Derek Roberts, Atglen 1993, p. 234f.
Japy Freres
Frederic Japy (1749-1812) founded the Japy watch- and chronometermaking dynasty Japy around 1770 in Beaucourt. Their pioneering use of machinery in the production of ebauches was a great success and the company existed until present days.
A similar clock is illustrated and described in: "Carriage and other Travelling Clocks" by Derek Roberts, Atglen 1993, p. 234.
Sold
estimated
8.500—15.000 €
Price realized
29.800 €