Japy Freres & Cie (French gold medal recipient) clockworks inside. Superb antique hand carved 18" tall mantel clock, Neo-renaissance in feel and detail with carved lions on each side, and with the original garniture pair still with it. Just in from France yesterday and I couldn't wait to show it to you all. These pieces are beautifully hand carved and complete, no losses or damage other than a little chip to backside of one of the bun feet on a garniture, which is to the back side, turned so you'll never see it (see images). RARE to find a carved clock so beautifully preserve. The all-over carving thrills the eye. The soft satin of the grain might shine a tiny bit in our photos but it's because I cleaned and waxed it to preserve the beauty, and took pics right away. Please note that the platforms on clock and on the pair of matching garnitures can hold small vase of flowers, or large candles. If I were to keep this one, I'd use the garnitures at table with rose bowl bouquets trailing over the sides. Full measurements are noted on the photos. (I know it is French and not Black Forest, but it will be in our Black Forest category as a wood carving)
Very good to excellent condition for age and type. RARE to find carved clocks as elaborately carved and without damage. After intimate inspection as I cleaned it, I can point out only 2 imperfections: as mentioned, a chip to one bun foot on a garniture. The other is an old repair to the slender middle of the small finial left top in your view, which is stable, must be pinned as well as glued. Just be aware and a little careful handling and setting up. It does lift out so we'll pack it very carefully but not on the clock. Rick put a pendulum and key with it from our warehouse and says it seems to want to work - may need adjustment or the pendulum isn't the right one. My interest in old clocks doesn't actually include winding and using them, but we'll report soon on the working mechanism. Usually these old ones need adjustment after international or even domestic shipping, and I do not know how long it's been since the mechanism has been cleaned. I don't see a maker on the clockworks, but indices are nice and both hands remain.
