Antique Japy Frères Sheraton Revival Marquetry Mantel Clock Serviced Working
Antique Japy Frères Sheraton Revival Marquetry Mantel Clock Serviced Working
Antique Japy Frères
Sheraton Revival Mantel Clock
Japy Frères: France's Great Clockmaking Dynasty
Few names dominate 19th-century French clockmaking quite like Japy Frères. The firm traces back to Frédéric Japy, who began mechanising clock production in the town of Beaucourt in the 1770s, bringing every stage of manufacture under one roof at a time when watches and clocks were still built piece by piece by individual craftsmen. When his three sons took over the business in 1806, they built it into one of the largest clock and movement manufacturers in the world, supplying finished clocks and movements across France and much of Europe throughout the 1800s.
By the mid-to-late 19th century, a Japy Frères movement was something of a mark of quality in itself; the firm's enamel dials and reliable time-only and striking movements found their way into mantel clocks and carriage clocks across the price spectrum, from modest household pieces to the finely cased clocks made for more discerning buyers. This Sheraton Revival example, with its marquetry and boxwood stringing, sits toward that better end of the firm's output.
A French clockmaking name that shaped the mantel clock as we know it, in production from 1806 through much of the 20th century.
The Clock
A particularly attractive antique mantel clock combining a quality French movement by Japy Frères with an elegant Sheraton Revival mahogany case. The shaped architectural case is beautifully decorated with delicate floral marquetry, fine boxwood stringing and chequered edging, with two brass columns framing the front. The warm mahogany colour and restrained decoration give the clock a refined, drawing-room appearance.
The clean white dial displays black Roman numerals and traditional dark metal hands, surrounded by a brass bezel.
Movement & Servicing
The clock is powered by a French Japy Frères time-only mechanical movement with a visible balance-wheel escapement and FAST/SLOW regulator. The movement has been serviced, correctly lubricated using Novostar oil on the mainspring and synthetic clock oil on the pivots, and the clock is running correctly at the time of listing. It is wound from the rear using the supplied key.
- Movement inspected and serviced
- Mainspring lubricated with Novostar oil
- Pivots lubricated with synthetic clock oil
- Balance-wheel escapement and FAST/SLOW regulator functioning correctly
- Running correctly at time of listing
- Winding key included
Interesting South African Provenance
The removable brass rear cover retains a vintage repairer's label, a small but evocative trace of the clock's working life:
Shop No. 1, Antrim Court
Tyrwhitt Avenue, Rosebank
This surviving label indicates that the clock spent part of its life in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it was attended to by a local watchmaker, giving it a well-travelled history beyond its French origins.
Condition
The clock is presented in very attractive antique condition. The mahogany case has been carefully cleaned and finished while retaining the character expected from a genuine period piece. There are minor marks, small imperfections and signs of age, particularly around the rear of the case, but nothing that detracts from its excellent overall presentation.
The dial, brass bezel, decorative columns and marquetry all present particularly well.
Dimensions
Included
- Antique Japy Frères mantel clock
- Removable brass rear cover
- Correct winding key
An unusually decorative and highly presentable antique timepiece. Its recognised French movement, elegant Sheraton Revival case and unusual South African service provenance make it much more interesting than the average time-only mantel clock.