Style Japonism, Chinoiserie / Ref.14891

L’Escalier de CRISTAL, Japanese-style spherical clock in engraved crystal and polychrome enamels

This exceptional Japanese-style clock in cut crystal, enameled and gilded, is a creation by L'Escalier de Cristal, carefully recorded by Henry Pannier in his Carnet Bleu. The cylindrical base is engraved and enameled with plant motifs typical of Japanese decorative style: leaves, tendrils, and coloquintes unfold around an openwork piece in gilded bronze. At the end of the 19th century, these plant elements were revisited and exaggerated by Art Nouveau artists.
The spherical body of the clock is mounted on a gilded bronze lotus with finely chiseled leaves. The engraved and gilded dial depicts a marsh landscape with reeds and lotus flowers, from which ducks take flight. The hours are marked by symbols inspired by Japanese writing, gilded on a black enamel background. This clock is impressive for the finesse of its execution and the originality of its design. The details of this piece are extremely delicate, as evidenced by the finely chiseled brass hands representing a menacing dragon with its mouth open, a characteristic feature of the clocks on the Crystal Staircase. The back of the clock features a polychrome enamel decoration surrounded by scales depicting a rooster and a hen. A symbol of dawn, the rooster is a fitting motif for a clock in the style of the land of the rising sun. The hen, meanwhile, is a symbol of abundance.
Decorative elements in gilded bronze are attached to each side of the upper part of the clock, giving it a sense of poise and presence despite its transparency. In addition, the irregular effect of the surface is skillfully controlled and gives a superb relief to the whole. Taking up a motif that was very fashionable during the reign of Louis XV and brought back into vogue in the second half of the 19th century, the clock is topped by a gilded bronze treasure chest straddling a grimacing toad. Famous for its “Tam-Tam” clocks inspired by Asian gongs, our model is one of the few to be made entirely of crystal. Its design is known from Henry Pannier's Carnet bleu. The entry in the notebook lists four orders for this exceptional piece (1). Signed under the base.

1) Masseau, Annick et Didier, L’Escalier de cristal. Le luxe à Paris 1809-1923, Saint-Rémy-en-l’Eau, Éditions Monelle Hayot, 2021, p. 241.