Marcus & Co. Art Deco Cloisonné Enamel Desk Clock

Description

Art Deco Cloisonné Enamel Desk Clock
Case: Attributed to Marcus & Co.
Movement: Mathey-Tissot
Circa 1930

This exceptionally rare Art Deco desk clock represents the pinnacle of early 20th-century luxury, attributed to the renowned American firm Marcus & Co. Known for their elaborate handmade cases and exceptional artistry, Marcus & Co. conceived a richly layered design that combines hardstone, coral, lacquer, cloisonné enamel, diamonds and platinum with striking motifs inspired by the refined traditions of Chinese artistry. Its 8-day going movement was supplied by the prestigious Swiss firm Mathey-Tissot, whose high-grade mechanisms were favored by leading luxury houses.

The clock’s composition is extraordinary. A scalloped lapis lazuli pedestal supports two fluted coral columns that frame a black Chinese lacquer rectangle accented in vivid red. The dial is rendered in cloisonné enamel, depicting a Chinese landscape with a river flowing through mountains, blossoms in the foreground and a traditional Chinese junk gliding across still waters. Diamond-set platinum Chinese numerals and hands elevate the dial, while the caseback echoes the same landscape in cloisonné enamel. Cabochon good-luck stones set atop hardstone mounts complete the design.

Marcus & Co. was established by Herman Marcus after immigrating to the United States from Germany around 1850. Having first worked at Tiffany & Co., Marcus later founded his own firm with his sons William and George in 1892. The company became celebrated for its handcrafted creations of exceptional quality, catering to an elite clientele and producing some of the finest American jewelry and objets d’art of the period. Their partnership with Mathey-Tissot—one of Switzerland’s premier makers of high-grade movements—ensured that their clocks combined masterful design with mechanical excellence. The serene Chinese landscape depicted here embodies traditional ideals of strength, peace and good fortune, harmonizing perfectly with the artistry that defines Marcus & Co.’s legacy.

Movement signed “E. Mathey-Tissot & Co.” and numbered 7244

4 1/4″ high x 3 1/4″ wide x 2″ deep