Style Japonism, Chinoiserie / Ref.03139

Mantel Garniture with Elephant, CREIL-MONTEREAU Co (attributed to), for the ESCALIER DE CRISTAL

Enameled earthenware and gilded bronze
Original clock mechanism
Period of Henri Felix Anatole Barluet (1874-1884)

On a gilded and chiseled bronze base adorned with Japanese motifs, dragon heads and Eastern style foliage, walks a white elephant in parade regalia with a rug, headdress and a pagoda on its back.
The pagoda houses the mechanism of the clock. The clock’s face has “Chinese numbers”, snake shaped gilded hands and is decorated on all sides with exotic birds, cranes, insects, parrots and Japanese cherry blossoms, inserted freely in stamp-like images. Gilded and chiseled elements such as, bamboos, dragons, and Taotie masks add to the decor of this center piece.
A pair of closed Chinese vase candelabra frame the clock. With four curved branches garnished with Eastern style architectural motifs, they each end with a dragon head supporting a ceramic socket,. An extra socket sits at the top of the shaft. Each socket is unique, painted with a different type of flowers and butterflies. The gilded bronze elements echo those of the clock. The vases are adorned with humming birds and crested birds, parakeets, fish, and butterflies amongst blossoming branches or on medallions and fans.
This delicate mantel clock set with its idealized Japanese decor, is unmistakably a production of l’Escalier de Cristal. L’Escalier de Cristal was a famous Parisian boutique specialized in ceramic and glass wares, that also offered furniture and bronzes. They had an important production of clocks and garnitures, and their Japanese styles were much appreciated by the public, in search of the exotic.

This garniture is similar to the Kioto dinnerware created by the Creil-Montereau company, circa 1878. The Musée d’Orsay has a collection of plates from this set (OAO 1208 1-10), as does also the ceramic museum of the city of Montereau. This fine earthenware set used the same types of superimposition of images as this garniture, with very similar motifs. This leads us to attribute this exceptional work to the Creil-Montereau company.

Size of the clock: H: 48cm; W: 29cm; D: 25cm.
Size of the candelabra: H: 49cm; W: 25cm.