Showcase clock; attributed to Gabriel Viardot, late 19th century.

Display case clock attributed to GABRIEL VIARDOT (Paris, 1830-1906), late 19th century.
Wooden structure; gilt bronze; mother-of-pearl and bone inlay; velvet.
Paris type movement.
Rust on the bezel of the clock.
Measurements: 225 x 49 x 35 cm.

Furniture-shelf topped by a clock with Paris-type machinery and Japanese motifs. The piece has six compartmentalized levels along the body, as well as a drawer and a small cabinet to keep objects out of sight. Vegetable motifs, both inlaid and applied, add dynamism to the whole, thanks to the play of volumes and iridescence of the mother-of-pearl. The ornamental work is completed by a series of dragons on the uprights of the piece of furniture that seem to be directed towards the clock face.

The term "Japonisme", coined in 1872 by the French critic, collector and engraver Philippe Burty, describes the profound influence of Japanese art on European artists and designers. During the second half of the 19th century, Japan aroused intense admiration in the West. Its aesthetics transformed European artistic practice, impacting composition, technique and the subjects depicted. This influence was also manifested in the incorporation of Japanese ceramics, engravings and textiles in European works, as well as in decorative objects inspired by motifs from Japanese art.

Gabriel Viardot (1830 - 1906) was a key figure in the decorative arts in late 19th century France, renowned for his exotic furniture inspired by the Orient. Trained as a sculptor, Viardot specialized in the creation of furniture, where he combined exotic woods with lacquer, ornamental carvings and details in gilded bronze and mother-of-pearl.