A FRENCH GILT BRASS CARRIAGE CLOCK IN ONE-PIECE CASE Japy Freres, Paris, mid 19th century The eight-day two train bell striking movement with silvered platform lever escapement and stamped with oval trademark JAPY FRERES & CIE, EXPOSITION, 1853, GRANDE, MED. D'HONNEUR over serial number 2054, the recatangular white enamel Roman numeral dial with blued steel moon hands, the satin gilt one-piece caddy-moulded case with hinged carrying handle and cavetto moulded skirt base engraved with initials M. J. to front. 13cm (5ins) high excluding handle, 8.5cm (3.375ins) wide, 7.5cm (3ins) deep. Provenance : The estate of Lawrence Hurst. The firm of Japy Freres et Cie was founded by Frederick Japy in 1774 who set-up a modest workshop in Montbeliard as a watch and machine tool maker. Japy expanded his business rapidly and by 1804, the year he was awarded the Legion d Honneur by Napoleon (in recognition for his Brevets in horological machinery), he employed 300 people at his manufactory in Beaucourt. From 1806, he took five of his sons into partnership and the firm expanded adding buildings at Badevel and La Feschotte amongst others to become one of the largest makers of clocks in Europe. The business continued into the Twentieth century but during the inter-war period went into decline and is thought to have finally wound-up in around 1840. A detailed history of Japy Freres et Cie is provided in Allix, Charles and Bonnert, Peter CARRIAGE CLOCKS, Their history and development chapter VI pages 133-48.