Marcus & Co. Art Deco Cloisonné Enamel Desk Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1930
This Art Deco desk clock, attributed to the American firm Marcus & Co. and dated circa 1930, features a multi-material construction. The assembly includes a scalloped lapis lazuli pedestal base supporting two fluted coral columns, which in turn hold a black Chinese lacquer rectangular clock housing.
The dial features cloisonné enamel decoration depicting a mountainous river landscape with a Chinese junk vessel. Time is indicated by diamond-set platinum hands pointing to corresponding diamond-set platinum Chinese numerals. The reverse of the housing is also finished with a cloisonné enamel landscape. The clock is powered by an 8-day going movement produced by Mathey-Tissot, signed "E. Mathey-Tissot & Co." and engraved with the serial number 7244.
Additional adornments include cabochon stones set into hardstone mounts atop the housing, reflecting the firm's varied material usage.
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 1930
- Type
- Desk clock
- Maker
- Marcus & Co.
- Dimensions
- 4 1/4" high x 3 1/8" wide x 2 1/8" deep
- Serial Number
- 7244
- Movement Maker
- Mathey-Tissot
- Place recorded
- United States
- Movement Signature
- E. Mathey-Tissot & Co.
- Maker / attribution
- Marcus & Co.
Design
- Dial and Design
- The dial is designed with a cloisonné enamel scene featuring a river, mountains, and a traditional Chinese junk ship. The numerals and hands are crafted from platinum and are set with diamonds. The landscape design is inspired by Chinese artistic traditions and provides the primary visual focus for the clock face. The desk clock's dimensions are compact, measuring 4 1/4 inches in height, 3 1/8 inches in width, and 2 1/8 inches in depth.
- Visible features
- • Dial features landscape with Chinese junk • Hands and numerals are diamond-set platinum • Lapis lazuli pedestal base • Movement numbered 7244
- Case Construction
- The clock is built upon a base of scalloped lapis lazuli. Rising from this foundation are two fluted columns carved from coral, which support the central rectangular housing. The housing is surfaced in black Chinese lacquer and is embellished with hardstone mounts topped by cabochon stones. The rear of the clock case is also finished with a cloisonné enamel landscape, mirroring the decoration applied to the dial face, which maintains consistency in the decorative theme across the object's exterior surfaces.
- Movement and Attribution
- The clock is powered by an 8-day going movement supplied by Mathey-Tissot. The movement is explicitly signed by the maker and bears the serial number 7244, confirming the provenance of the mechanical components as originating from the Swiss firm. While the movement is a verified Mathey-Tissot production, the overall ensemble is documented as a collaborative luxury piece from the early 20th century.
Identification
- Serial number
- 7244
- 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: Case is attributed to Marcus & Co. rather than fully documented
- Research required: Specific identity of cabochon stones is not verified