Rockwell Antiques

PRESENTING A STUNNING mid to late 19C French Japy Freres & Red/Magenta Sevres Porcelain Mantle Clock with Garniture Candlestick Ewers. The clock movement is by the famous Parisienne Clockmaker … ‘Japy Freres’ and the clock dial has the marks for “JAY” (short for Japy Freres) & “Paris” on the dial face. The clock mechanism and clock face/dial have matching serial numbers of “7225”. The movement also has the numbers: “5 – 2”. The clock face/dial also has the initials: “D.H.”. The gilt ormolu clock case is gilt spelter and is signed on the rear base, for having been made by “P.H. Mourey” of Paris, who worked with and for ‘Japy Freres’, towards the end of the 19th Century. The signature of ‘Mourey’ also bears the numbers “85” … probably for 1885, but could also be the serial number. Taking into account Mourey’s historical association with Japy, being late 19th Century, we are leaning heavily towards this being the date of manufacture i.e. 1885. The Clock has RARE red/magenta Sevres hand-painted porcelain paintings/additions, to include:- (i) a 2 handled and lidded urn on the crown with pointed flame finial, (ii) a pair of bulbous urns either side of the main body and clock face, (iii) the clock face and dial itself and (iv) a flat rectangular medallion on the front base. The crown urn and the base medallion both have similar themes, but different painted scenes, depicting French rural countryside scenes with cottages, rivers and bridges. The porcelain urns on the sides, likewise have hand-painted images of a young boy, in rustic period attire on the right and a young girl on the left. None of these paintings appear to be signed. The clock case has GLORIOUS detail to it, with scrolls, ribbons, vines, grapes and Corinthian columns. The clock sits on a custom made gilt wood and burgundy velvet plinth, that is original to the piece and was a common accent with ‘Japy Freres Clocks’, when originally retailed in their Paris shop. The rear of the clock is plain and the perspex/clear resin plate insert, is a new addition, but a nice addition, in that it allows one, to view the movement and pendulum works. The clock is an 8 day movement with a strike on the hour and half hour. The clock face has 2 winding holes … one for the pendulum movement and the other for the striking chime/ring. Unlike British clocks this clock does not have a long musical chime … it is a simple ‘single strike’ on the half hour. The red/magenta Sevres porcelain clock face/dial is in SUPERB condition. Roman numerals with gilt accents and a hand-painted circular wreath/bouquet of spring flowers on the center section. To complete the set, we have a matching pair of gilt ormolu spelter and hand-painted red/magenta Sevres porcelain Ewers … which can hold a single candle each. The porcelain urns on the central section, have hand-painted images of a young lady in rustic period attire … fishing on the riverbank on the right and a young man playing the flute in the countryside on the left. The front base medallions on each ewer have hand-painted wreaths/bouquets of spring flowers. The clock facing side of the porcelain urn on each Ewer, has a brass ormolu applique head, of the Greek god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre, namely, Dionysus. The plinths are signed on the rear top left corner, and we think they read: “R.P. Unfaut”. They also bear the numbers “61” and “69”, Again, possibly for 1861 and 1869, but here we think it is more likely they are serial numbers, as it is highly unlikely that a matching pair were made 8 years apart! Whilst we cannot find any information on ‘R.P. Unfaut’, we can only guess that he/she/they worked with, or for, ‘Japy Freres’, as these ewers are unmistakably, a ‘superb’ match for the clock! The style, subject matter, gold banding and edging, around the paintings, are virtually ‘identical’ to the same decorations on the clock’s porcelain paintings. The Ewer on the left (with the boy playing the flute) appears to have a faded signature on the gold border of the painting towards the base and we think it is the signature of ‘Alexandre Evariste Fragonard’ …. one of the best known artists attached to Sevres in the mid 19th Century … meaning, that these Ewers were probably made circa 1845-50. The quality and detail to these 2 paintings is classic Fragonard! We are of the opinion, therefore that these garnitures, were made circa 35/40 years before the clock, as Mourey was prevalent with Japy around 1880 – 1900. The clock paintings are of a very similar, rustic ‘Fragonard Style’ subject matter and although unsigned, could possibly have been painted by a Sevres artist, to replicate the Fragonard paintings...

PRESENTING a GORGEOUS and early example of an 18C Irish Georgian Mahogany Pembroke Table. GORGEOUS SIMPLICITY in this Mid-18th Century, George II Period, circa 1760-80, mahogany ‘P...

PRESENTING a STUNNING Early 19th Century British Regency Rosewood Fold-over Side Table with Lions Paw Feet in the Manner of Gillows. ‘Perio...

PRESENTING a BEAUTIFUL and RARE Medium sized Helen Fette Rectangular Oriental Rug from the Art Deco Era. Beautifully detailed and HIGH QUALITY wool weave. Circa 1925. Rectangular ...

PRESENTING a LOVELY Pair of 18C Country French Cherrywood Open Shelved Side Tables. Both from circa 1790 and made of cherrywood, these beautifully proportioned side tables are not f...

PRESENTING a LOVELY Pair of 19C French Country Cherrywood Side Tables. Not a fully ‘matching’ pair, but very similar and have been together since the 1930’s (at a minimum). Both ma...

Presenting a stunning piece of Indian antiquity from the 10th century, namely, a temple bracket buff sandstone central India carving. From Central In...

PRESENTING a STUNNING piece of Southeast Asian Antiquity, namely, a Group of 4 Terracotta Animals from the First Century B.C to First Century A.D. These pieces has impeccable Provenance! They were purchased by a Private Dallas Collector at Christie’s New York Auction on 16th September 2008. Sale Number 2024, Lot No. 360. Christie’s operate a twice yearly auction of Southeast Asian Art & Antiquities in New York in the months of March and September. The Auction was titled: “Indian and Southeast Asian Art”. The sculptures were described as: “ Lot 360 = Property from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Manheim – A group of four terracotta animals – Indus Valley, Shunga Period...

PRESENTING a Lovely medium sized Wood Block Print of the ‘Canoe Maker’ by Dietrich Varez -1979. Signed by the artist. Well known American/Hawaiian Arti...

PRESENTING a Lovely large sized wood block print of "The Dispersion of the Hala Tree by Madam Pele" by Dietrich Varez - 1979. Signed by the artist. We...

PRESENTING a BEAUTIFUL and RARE medium sized Helen Fette Oriental Rug from the Art Deco Era. Beautifully detailed and HIGH QUALITY wool weave. Lovely patina consistent with age. H...

PRESENTING a BEAUTIFUL and RARE small sized Oriental Floor Rug by Helen Fette (2), from the Art Deco Era. Beautifully detailed and HIGH QUALITY wool weave. Lovely patina consistent...