Clock c. 1869

silver, pigment, bronze

3d sculpting

3d model

silver

pigment

3d image

3d printed part

sculpture

virtual 3d design

bronze

sculptural image

unrealistic statue

3d shape

france

3d modeling

This intricate clock, crafted by French artist Emile Reiber in the late 19th century, exhibits a striking blend of Western and Japanese artistic influences. The clock face, set within an ornate frame, is surrounded by a depiction of a tranquil Japanese landscape, likely inspired by the Japonisme movement which swept Europe during this period. The ornate details, including the decorative elements along the base and the dramatic silhouette of the clock's frame, suggest a strong Rococo aesthetic, while the overall design reveals Reiber's mastery of both traditional Western and Japanese art forms. This unique piece, now residing in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a testament to the cross-cultural artistic exchange of the 19th century, showcasing the influence of Japonisme on European decorative arts.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This magnificent clock illustrates some of the earliest Japanese influences on European decorative arts following the reopening of Japan to the Western world in 1854. The clock combines European and Asian iinfluences. Its overall form is derived from an 18th-century Chinese table screen; the face and whimsical beast above it is inspired by Tibetan mandalas; and the silver inlay depicts scenes taken from Japanese paintings, lacquerware, and ceramics. Reiber had tremendous interest in Japanese motifs and he imitated Japanese mixed metal and cloisonné work. He spent hours copying Chinese bronzes and Japanese decorative arts for Christofle, the foremost French firm of silverplating and metalwork during the second half of the 19th century.