
Clocks · Clock
Clock by Japy Fils, 1850–1860
- Maker / attribution
- Japy Fils (Maker)
- Date
- 1850–1860
- Historical period
- Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
- Country of origin
- Unrecorded in source
- Place
- París
- Object type
- Clock
- Materials / technique
- Madera Bronce Barniz Metal Esmalte Acero Latón
- Dimensions
- Altura = 52 cm Anchura = 24,70 cm Profundidad = 14 cm
- Holding institution
- National Museum of Decorative Arts
- Accession / object no.
- pages_Main_idt_5177_inventary_CE05158_table_FMUS_museum_MNAD
- Credit line
- National Museum of Decorative Arts
- Catalogue title (original)
- Reloj de sobremesa (Spanish)
View the source record ↗ (opens another website in a new tab)Suggest a correction
Record summary
Held and catalogued by National Museum of Decorative Arts (object number pages_Main_idt_5177_inventary_CE05158_table_FMUS_museum_MNAD), this is a clock by Japy Fils, made in París, dated 1850–1860. The Atlas places it in the Industrial Revolution period (1850 – 1900) of its Clocks collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: Madera Bronce Barniz Metal Esmalte Acero Latón. Recorded dimensions: Altura = 52 cm Anchura = 24,70 cm Profundidad = 14 cm. The record is illustrated with 1 photograph.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Catalogue description from National Museum of Decorative Arts
Reloj de sobremesa francés de estilo Boullé y de tipo pórtico. Posee cuatro pies de bronce dorado con forma de garra. Sobre estas, se eleva un zócalo de madera ebonizada con una cenefa floral de ormolú en su cara frontal, rodeando los ángulos. En su frente, aparecen también motivos vegetales esmaltados e incrustados mediante nácar. Luego, aparece otro cuerpo con figuras vegetales doradas que rodean toda la estructura para acabar en un último escalón, que mantiene la misma decoración frontal. Tras ello, se disponen cuatro columnas salomónicas con basas y capiteles corintios en bronce dorado cincelado y fustes en madera, con molduras vegetales de bronce dorado a modo de enredadera a lo largo de dichos fustes. El entablamento que cierra el conjunto, también hecho en madera, posee el esmaltado y las incrustaciones de nácar de su basamento, que conforman un friso vegetales. Entre las cuatro columnas y debajo del centro del entablamento, se encuentra el reloj. Su esfera, de porcelana blanca sobre plancha de bronce, se encuentra rodeada por rocallas de bronce dorado cincelado. Presenta en esmalte negro números romanos para las horas, del I al XII; y pequeñas rayas para indicar los minutos. Las agujas son de acero pavonado y de tipo Breguet, aunque la de los minutos se ha perdido. Por último, también se muestran los dos bocallaves: uno para la toma de cuerda de la marcha y otro para la sonería. Su maquinaria es de tipo París, con dos platinas circulares, donde se ha insertado el mecanismo. Tiene dos trenes independientes: sistema de sonería de horas, compuesto por rueda contadera y mazo -la campana ha desaparecido-; y la marcha del reloj, formado por ruedas, piñones, cadenas y escape de paletas -se ha perdido el péndulo-.
Shown in the original language of the source catalogue. An editor-reviewed English translation has not yet been published; we do not publish machine translations as authoritative text.
Historical context
Industrial Revolution (1850 – 1900)
American interchangeable-parts manufacture; railroad time standards; Swiss and German factory systems.
Factory production transformed the clock into an everyday object. American makers (Seth Thomas, Ansonia, Waterbury) and German factories (Junghans, Gustav Becker, Lenzkirch) sold millions of shelf, wall and alarm clocks worldwide; France produced standardised Paris movements and carriage clocks; electric time distribution began.
Read the period in the timelineMore clocks from this periodEarlier: Precision & Scientific Horology
Atlas type guide
Domestic clocks
A clock combines four systems: a source of power (falling weight, coiled spring, or later electricity), a gear train that divides time, an escapement and oscillator that regulate it (foliot, pendulum or balance), and an indicating system of dial and hands or a bell. Its history runs from the large iron weight-driven clocks of the late thirteenth century to Renaissance spring-driven table clocks, the pendulum revolution of 1656, the factory clocks of the nineteenth century and electric and quartz clocks of the twentieth.
Domestic clocks also reflect regional furniture and decorative traditions — English longcase and bracket clocks, French pendules, Viennese regulators, Black Forest and American shelf clocks — and therefore record changing tastes as much as technical progress.
What to look for
- How the clock is powered: weights, spring barrel, fusee, electric coil.
- The oscillator: foliot, short pendulum, long seconds pendulum or balance.
- Whether it strikes: hour only (count wheel) or hours and quarters (rack striking).
- The maker or retailer's name on dial and movement, and any factory trademarks.
- Signs of alteration — replaced dials, converted escapements, 'married' cases.
Dating clues
- Before 1656 clocks used foliots or balances; after, most domestic clocks have pendulums.
- Anchor escapements spread after c. 1670; minute hands became common at the same time.
- Factory production in America and Germany transformed prices after c. 1840.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Related records
Clocks · 1855
Mantel Clock - Japy Fils, 1855
Museums Victoria, Melbourne
Clocks · 1830–1870
Wall clock in a papier mâché case with painted decoration. English, mid 19th century.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Clocks · 1840–1900
Alarm clock, mounted on model of coffin with skeleton, probably English, 1840–1900
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1840–1880
Clock dial marked "Potter, Railway Time" with two hands, unknown maker, British, 1840–1880
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1840–1877
Electric clock of the Bain type
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1840–1878
Mantel clock by A. Brocot, France, 1840–1878
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1840–1880
Wall Clock in octagonal case with Prince of Wales Feathers above makers name "W. Avison, Railway Time, York", made by William Avison, England, 1840–1880.
Science Museum Group, London
Clocks · 1841–1870
Contact bar from electric clock, unsigned, London, England, 1841–1870
Science Museum Group, London
