Antique French Gilt and Alabaster Clock - The Blacksmith

Circa 1870

~ Louis Japy et Cie ~

~~ Very Good Condition ~~

A super gilt metal clock by Louis Japy et Cie. The case depicts a blacksmith at work in his forge with his assistant working the bellows to the right. The scene is full of movement - he is working the hot iron on the anvil above the clock which is mounted in the base of the forge with the forge burning brightly in the back ground. The base of the clock is alabaster mounted with gilt metal in the form of the forge building, with a gothic portico and stone pillars strung with foliage. The clock has an enamel dial with blue steel hands.

Louis P Japy was son of Louis Japy and grandson of Frederic Japy - the Japy Freres.

The clock runs for 8 days and strikes half - hourly on a bell.

Click here to hear the clock running! Click here to hear the bell strike!

The movement is in excellent clean and fully running condition having been cleaned and serviced by our clockmaker. The pendulum is a replacement and the clock keeps good time. The back plate of the movement has the Louis Japy mark and a rear leg has the case maker's mark "JP"

The case is in good condition, there is a repair to the front right hand leg, and a very old repair to the back of the forge, could even have been done when made as the gilding appears to be over the top of it - both repairs are only noticeable on close inspection. There is no damage to the dial and the alabaster is in good clean condition with no cracks. The left leg looks slightly turned rearward - although there is no sign of repair or bending. The gilding as usual is dull and worn, we have brightened it with a little gilt wax - displays very well as you can see below.

Altogether a very unusual and attractive clock!

Complete with key, pendulum and bell!

Dimensions: Height 16 1/4", Width 12 3/4", Depth 6".