"pagoda" Clock Attr. To l'Escalier De Cristal, France, Circa 1885

Beautiful Japonisme clock in openwork patinated bronze with gold and silver highlights in the shape of a pagoda, at the corners presenting stylized dragons above uprights imitating bamboo.
The dial, with calligraphed numbers in Kanji and hands depicting an undulating dragon,
is placed on a portico with elephant heads, resting on columns, in the center of a terrace surrounded by an openwork gallery. The whole rests on a base decorated with foliage with four scrolled feet.

The roots of the artistic movement known as “Japanism” not only came from Japanese art, but also from Chinese art. Following the Franco-English military campaign led in 1860 against the Imperial army in China, the French troops of Napoleon the IIIrd brought back from the Summer Palace, a part of the Chinese Imperial court treasure, which made up the famous Chinese Museum of Empress Eugénie at the Fontainebleau Palace. The French artists quickly took inspiration from those exotic and sumptuous objects for their creations, as they used to do in the 18th century, when the best French cabinet-makers adapted the Chinese lacquers on the luxurious royal chests, aimed at amateurs, most of whom will never set foot in these distant lands.

Biography :
“L’Escalier de Cristal”, an old and famous Parisian firm, specialized in glass products and ceramics but also suggested furniture and bronze sculptures. It was led from 1885 to 1923 by Emile Pannier’s sons, who gave the name of Pannier Frères to the society, located at the corner of Scribe street and Auber street, next to the new built Paris Opera house. Their Japanese style creations were among many others much appreciated by the critics and the public. They were awarded many medals at various exhibitions, such as the Gold medal at the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition. Lots of artists participated in that world success, such as Emile Gallé, who gave to Pannier Frères the exclusive rights of some of his models, or François-Eugène Rousseau, who designed many vases and gave the model of his successful Japanese style dining-set as well. This set was made by the Creil et Montereau Manufacture. In the Japanese style furniture branch, many famous makers such as Majorelle from Nancy, Edouard Lièvre or Gabriel Viardot worked for Pannier Frères. Some pieces are to be seen in the greatest museums: the Ermitage in Saint-Petersburg, the Orsay Museum in Paris, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.“L’Escalier de Cristal” was sometimes the exclusive owner of the models and then those pieces were just signed by “L’Escalier de Cristal” or sometimes beside the artist signature. But “L’Escalier de Cristal” was also very creative, completing pieces with superb, gilded bronzes, glass or enameled panels and often including authentic Japanese or Chinese elements.