Japy Freres (Japy Brothers) were French clock makers founded by Frédéric Japy in 1777 where he renewed and mechanized the traditional process of establishment practiced in the Jura by the watchmaking profession. From the watch movement, Japy went onto the pendulum and diversified into tools, engines, bicycle parts, lighting, garden furniture, pumps 1 , coffee grinders, typewriters , etc. The 1880s marked the golden age of Japy. Nearly 5,000 workers worked in the Japy factories in the region. The family had thirteen castles built on Beaucourt and Dasle, four have disappeared. Reference: Wikipedia
Japy Freres Makers Mark
French striking mantle clock, (No.2.) Belgium slate with rouge marble insert, made by Japy Freres et Cie, Paris, France, c. 1910
Reference: Museum of Applied Art and Sciences
A GILT-BRASS STRIKE REPEATING CARRIAGE CLOCK WITH ALARM, FRENCH, JAPY FRERES & CIE, CIRCA 1860 repeating bell strike movement with alarm, enamel dial, Roman numerals, subsidiary alarm dial, one piece rectangular case inset with bevelled glass, shaped handle height 17.5cm
Sold for 3,120 AUD at Sotheby’s in 2008
A late 19th century French, gilt bronze and Serves style porcelain inset mantle clock in the Louis XVI style, the movement stamped Japy Freres et Cie the arched case with convex sides, surmounted by a twin handled pedestal urn with fruiting knopped finial, on scrolling and twin toupie feet, the whole inset with gilt and jewelled bleu de roi panels, the front panel with a scene depicting courtly lovers, the floral 3.25″ dial with Roman numerals, the brass twin train movement with Brocot type escapement striking on a bell with pendulum and winder, 36cm high
Sold for £ 1,020 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2019
A MEISSEN PORCELAIN ‘JEWELED’ COBALT BLUE GROUND MANTEL CLOCK AND STAND CIRCA 1880, BLUE CROSSED SWORDS MARKS, INCISED MODEL NO. 815 TO BOTH, THE ENAMELED DECORATION ATTRIBUTED TO ALBERT GEORG ERAS; THE CLOCK MOVEMENT STAMPED JAPY FRERES The clock case of architectural form surmounted by a vasi-form finial, enameled all over with colorful stylized flori-forms, the central drum enameled with Roman chapters, the stand decorated en suite and raised on four gilt bun feet 19 ½ in. (49.5 cm.) high, overall
Sold for USD 22,500 at Christie’s in 2019
French Rococo Style Gilt Decorated Porcelain Mantel Clock Retailed by Gilman Collamore, Japy Frères Movement Height 12 1/2 inches, width 8 1/4 inches.
Sold for $375 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2019
