Japy frères: A relatively early engraved carriage clock with an unusual platform

A superb engraved one-piece carriage clock by Japy Frères et Cie, with an unusual balance to the lever escapement.

The eight-day duration movement strikes the hours and half-hours on a bell with a push repeat button to the top, sounding the last hour at will. The platform escapement has a plain steel balance with large blued ‘bat wing’ timing pieces, as would be expected on a Chinese duplex escapement, the Chinese belief being that bat wings ward off evil spirits and is engraved to the top in the usual Japy frères style, with scroll decoration set on a matted ground. The backplate is stamped with the Japy trademark, an oval with the wording Japy Frères & Cie, Grande Medaille d’Honneur, Exposition 1855, and being the next incarnation of the Japy business (see D470, Bovet frères carriage clock for the previous style of trademark) which obviously dates this piece as after this year and is stamped with the serial number 236. Beneath the bell is seen the three-piece wheel work required to run the seconds hand, as also see on the Bovet frères example; indeed, the two movements are near-identical. The frontplate of the movement is stamped 236 L.

The white enamel dial has black Roman numerals, a subsidiary alarm setting dial, fine blued steel moon hands of a type seen on the earlier clocks by this maker, a sweep seconds hand and is signed Brevet d’Invention S.G.D.G.

The one-piece case is fully engraved with floral decoration and has an engraved solid rear door, with shutters that open to facilitate winding and setting the hands.

Derval: The Derek Roberts Collection

Dimensions

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number