Japy Freres French Cartel Wall Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1890–1900
This object is a French cartel-style wall clock, attributed to the Japy Freres workshop in Paris, dated between approximately 1890 and 1900. The clock features a vertically oriented decorative frame, which is reported by the seller as gilt bronze, although internal documentation also indicates wood, leaving the primary material construction unverified.
The clock includes a convex white enamel dial displaying Arabic numerals, paired with pierced decorative hands. Movement features include two winding apertures for the timekeeping and striking mechanisms. The audible system strikes the hour and provides a single strike on the half-hour, utilizing an internal bell. The total dimensions are recorded as 540 by 250 by 150 millimeters. The assembly is designed for single wall mounting, consistent with the tradition of French cartel timepieces.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Date
- circa 1890–1900
- Type
- Cartel wall clock
- Maker
- Japy Freres
- Style
- Cartel
- Dial type
- Convex enamel
- Place recorded
- France
- Reference code
- CL-WL-824
- Striking mechanism
- Bell strike on hour and half-hour
- Maker / attribution
- Japy Freres
- Case material conflict
- Gilt bronze vs. Wood
Design
- Case and Dial
- The object is a wall-mounted cartel clock with a highly detailed, cast-metal frame. The case exhibits a golden surface, though documentation from the source presents conflicting claims regarding the base material, citing both gilt bronze and wood. The dial is a convex, circular enamel piece featuring black Arabic numerals for the hours. It is centered by a pair of pierced, decorative hands. Two winding holes are visible on the dial, serving the timekeeping and the striking train, respectively.
- Visible features
- • Convex white enamel dial with Arabic numerals • Pierced-style decorative clock hands • Two winding apertures located on the dial face • Highly decorative, cast-metal frame with floral and architectural elements
- Attribution and History
- The clock is attributed to the Japy Freres workshop based in Paris. The source places the production of this object within the late 19th-century window of circa 1890 to 1900. The cataloging information provided by the source identifies the item under the internal reference code CL-WL-824. The object is classified as a cartel clock, a type of decorative wall timepiece rooted in 18th-century French watchmaking traditions. While the attribution is noted by the provider, the source indicates that the actual manufacturer's marks and the internal movement integrity have not been fully verified as of the current documentation.
- Movement and Striking Mechanism
- The movement is housed within the decorative case, though the specific internal components are not described in detail. The clock operates with two separate winding keys visible on the dial, indicating a standard French design for a striking timepiece. The auditory output consists of a striking mechanism that sounds on the hour and provides a single strike at the half-hour intervals. The sounds are produced by an internal bell, which remains hidden within the structure of the wall-mounted housing.
Identification
- Reference
- CL-WL-824
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Conflict in source documentation regarding case material: listed as gilt bronze in text but as wood in the reference table.
- Research required: The internal movement construction and authenticity of Japy Freres markings have not been independently verified.