This Japanese-style clock in cut, enameled, and gilded crystal is a creation of the prestigious house l'Escalier de Cristal. It was carefully documented by Henry Pannier in his famous "Blue Notebook," which lists four specific orders for this exceptional piece. While the house was renowned for its so-called "Tam-Tam" clocks inspired by Asian gongs, this model is one of the rare examples crafted entirely from crystal.

The cylindrical base is engraved and enameled with botanical motifs typical of the Japonisme decorative language: leaves, tendrils, and gourds unfold around an openwork gilt bronze element. At the end of the 19th century, these organic elements were adopted and expanded upon by Art Nouveau artists. The spherical body of the clock is mounted on a gilt bronze lotus base with finely chased leaves.

The engraved and gilded dial depicts a marsh landscape blending reeds and lotus flowers, with ducks in flight. The hours are marked by signs inspired by Japanese calligraphy, gilded against a black enameled background. The brass hands, also finely chased, represent a dragon with an open mouth—a characteristic feature of clocks from l'Escalier de Cristal.

The back of the clock features a polychrome enamel decoration framed by scales, depicting a rooster and a hen. As a symbol of dawn, the rooster is a fitting reference for a clock in the style of the Land of the Rising Sun, while the hen represents abundance. The piece is surmounted by a gilt bronze "magot" figure riding a grimacing toad, a motif popular during the reign of Louis XV and revived in the second half of the 19th century. The masterfully controlled irregular surface effect provides a striking sense of relief to the entire object.