L'Escalier de Cristal - Oriental Clock, France Circa 1890

Rare Chinese style clock in the shape of a covered pot attr. to L'Escalier de Cristal, in porcelain painted in imitation of Chinese cloisonné enamel and decorated with a two-patina bronze mount. The dome-shaped cover is topped with a Fô dog. A rotating decoration of chrysanthemums and peonies and golden geometric motifs on a blue background flourishes on the belly, and on each side of the dial surrounded by pearls and bronze flowers, two Fô dog heads hold the handles in their mouths. The whole rests on a bronze base decorated with a frieze of eggs and ending with six feet formed of elephant heads resting on their trunks and four turtles upright on their back legs.

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.