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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Mantel clock garniture

French gilt brass and porcelain mantel clock garniture

Partially verified

This French three-piece mantel clock garniture, dating to circa 1880, was retailed by the Philadelphia firm Bailey, Banks & Biddle. The circular eight-day movement was manufactured by Japy Frères & Cie. and incorporates a two-train striking mechanism on a coiled gong, an anchor escapement, and Brocot-type suspension regulation. The rectangular porcelain dial features vertically aligned Arabic numeral cartouches amidst blue and gilt plumbago floral decoration on a cream ground. The gilt brass case is crowned with an ogee-shaped porcelain dome superstructure and turned finials, flanked by turned baluster corner columns. The set includes two matching urn-form side pieces decorated with conforming floral porcelain bodies and scroll handles.

French gilt brass and porcelain mantel clock garniture, circa 1880
French gilt brass and porcelain mantel clock garniture, circa 1880 — Dreweatts 1759 / Invaluable. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.invaluable.com
Category
Clock · Mantel clock garniture
Maker / attribution
Japy Frères & Cie.
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
239
Source-reported date
circa 1880
Country
France
Source-reported serial
G243

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Identity and Provenance

This three-piece mantel clock garniture, dated to circa 1880, was retailed by Bailey, Banks and Biddle of Philadelphia. The movement is identified by a maker's roundel on the backplate associated with Japy Frères & Cie.

The firm of Bailey, Banks and Biddle originated as Bailey and Kitchen in 1832, traded as Bailey and Company from 1841, and adopted the name Bailey, Banks and Biddle in 1878.

Evidence for this section
  • “A FRENCH GILT BRASS AND PORCELAIN MANTEL CLOCK GARNITURE RETAILED BY BAILEY, BANKS AND BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA, CIRCA 1880”
  • “the backplate with JAPY FRERES & CIE. G'DE MED. D'HONNEUR roundel to centre”
  • “The business was known as Bailey and Company from 1841 and became Bailey Banks and Biddle in 1878.”

Mechanism and Dial

The clock utilizes an eight-day, two-train gong striking movement with an anchor escapement and Brocot-style suspension regulation, controlled by a disc bob pendulum. The backplate is stamped with 'G243' to the upper left and '5 8' to the lower margin.

The rectangular porcelain dial features a cream ground with blue and gilt plumbago floral sprays. It contains vertically aligned Arabic numerals in circular cartouches, with the retailer's name inscribed at the center.

Evidence for this section
  • “The circular eight-day two train gong striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum incorporating Brocot type regulation to suspension”
  • “stamped G243 to upper left and 5 8 to lower margin”
  • “the rectangular porcelain dial plate with asymmetric blue and gilt floral Plumbago sprays onto a cream ground incorporating vertically aligned circular Arabic cartouche numerals”

Case Construction

The gilt-brass case features an ogee-shaped porcelain dome with a turned gilt finial, decorated with floral sprays. It is designed with double baluster-turned corner columns and smaller porcelain domes, with matching rectangular panels on the sides.

The base is a skirt-type design with an inset porcelain panel and moulded projecting angles on turned feet. The accompanying two urn-shaped side pieces feature domed covers, brass collars, stepped ovoid porcelain bodies with gilt plumbago blooms, and baluster-turned scroll-shaped handles.

Evidence for this section
  • “the case with turned gilt finial to the ogee-shaped porcelain dome superstructure decorated with conforming floral sprays”
  • “slender free-standing double baluster turned corner columns”
  • “the urn-shaped side pieces with domed covers, brass collars and stepped ovoid porcelain bodies decorated with conforming gilt Plumbago blooms applied with elaborate baluster-turned scroll-shaped side handles”

Open research questions

  • What is the significance of the '5 8' stamp on the movement backplate?
  • Does the current physical state of the clock include the disc bob pendulum, as the source mentions it in the description but the cautions note it is not visible in the rear photograph?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for French gilt brass and porcelain mantel clock garniture
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
RetailerBailey, Banks & Biddle, Philadelphia“RETAILED BY BAILEY, BANKS AND BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA, CIRCA 1880”
Movement MakerJapy Frères & Cie.“the backplate with JAPY FRERES & CIE. G'DE MED. D'HONNEUR roundel to centre”
Movement StampG243“stamped G243 to upper left and 5 8 to lower margin”
Clock Dimensions42 cm high, 24 cm wide, 19.5 cm deep“The clock 42cm (16.5ins) high, 24cm (9.5ins) wide, 19.5cm (7.75ins) deep”
Side Piece Dimensions37.5 cm high, 14.5 cm wide, 11 cm deep“the side pieces 37.5cm (14.75ins) high, 14.5cm (5,75ins) wide, 11cm (4.25ins) deep.”
Clock Dimensions42cm high, 24cm wide, 19.5cm deep“The clock 42cm (16.5ins) high, 24cm (9.5ins) wide, 19.5cm (7.75ins) deep”
Side Piece Dimensions37.5cm high, 14.5cm wide, 11cm deep“the side pieces 37.5cm (14.75ins) high, 14.5cm (5,75ins) wide, 11cm (4.25ins) deep.”

Visible details

  • The mantel clock is flanked by two matching urn-shaped garniture side pieces with scroll handles.
  • The rectangular porcelain dial features vertically aligned Arabic numerals in circular cartouches surrounded by blue and gilt floral sprays.
  • The clock case features an ogee-shaped domed porcelain top with a turned gilt finial, resting on turned baluster corner columns and feet.

Research qualifications

  • The movement's operational functionality and timekeeping accuracy are not detailed in the catalog description.
  • Internal and reverse components mentioned in the text are not visible in this primary frontal view.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Sold at Auction: A FRENCH GILT BRASS AND PORCELAIN MANTEL CLOCK GARNITURE

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record a28c8e7752

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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