Outstanding 1920's Art Deco Japy Freres/Decoux Bronze Marble Clock

This is a French 1920′s Art Deco tricolor marble mantel clock set with a panther bronze by Michele Decoux (1837-1924) and clock movement by Japy Freres. The massive clock comes with garniture candelabras/lamps. This may be the most exceptional French Mantle clock suite we have ever seen. Strong Greek revival design with art deco, maybe one of kind. The clock runs accurately, pendulum and ringer work and the rheostatic candelabras light up. The overall condition of the set is excellent.

Michele Decoux (1837 – 1924) Belgian artist who moved to Paris in the golden years of Art Nouveau (art movement from 1890 till 1920). Specializing in animal statues, mostly bronze panthers, leopards and lions which, by their natural graceful forms and posture, are a constant challenge for every sculptor, certainly in bronze. Not only did she become a master in creating streamlined and life-like feline statues, but the finishing and the fine detailing are absolute highlights in bronze sculpting. On top she excelled in the use of cold cast painting, which brings her statues to real life with an exceptional patin.

About Japy Freres: 
There are a lot of great French artisans engraved in the history of clock-making, but out of hundreds and thousands of names written in books, you must not out-mention the contribution of the trailblazer who made the industry’s craft stand against time. Born in town of Beaucourt in France, the clock-making company Japy Freres et Cie (also known as Japy Freres) is one of the most famous collectible antique French clocks today. Its timeless beauty and elegance radiates even the dullest corner of the house. History started as early as 1777 when Frederick Japy began making clocks in his factory in the region of La Franche-Compte. Soon, the lone clock-maker established the clock-making company under his name in 1806. Together with his three sons they ran the first ever rough watch movement factory in France. The family supplied raw movements or “ebauche” to some of the France’s notable craftsmen of his time. The company also supplied ebauches to Swiss watchmakers. His movements are stamped together with different artisans’ signatures like Lucian Laine of Rue de Vaugirard, sculptures Alfred-Emmanuel-Louis Beurdeley and Joseph-Emmanuel Zwiener, and bronzier George Servant which happened to be a one of his major clients. Japy Freres never stuck in clock-making, the company ventured in making other products from casting irons, but the antique clocks are the most coveted ones amongst collectors. Some of his famous works, from thousands of equally attributed creations, is the movement on a Benjamin Franklin mantel clock, themed designs of centurion, knights, and people, and architectural clocks which generally come in sets with candelabras. A number of Japy Freres antique mantle clocks and French Garniture set (mantel clock and candelabra set) can be seen not only in private houses but also in museums.

On the clock, a small piece of marble on the upper right side shows a small crack. One of the vaseline shades on the candelabras has a small chip, another has a chip and crack. These are very minor, but should be mentioned. The clock is in amazing condition.