The case of this timepiece is a porcelain vase with a gilded bronze handle, depicting lion’s heads from whose jaws a handle hangs on either side. The bronze lid with egg-and-dart moulding and geometric elements is crowned by the figure of a full-relief Cupid in gilded bronze. The vase has a gilded bronze base and there are two cherubs holding floral garlands on both sides of the vase. The clock face is in the centre of the body of the vase. The face is made out of gold metal, surrounded by beading, with hour cartouches in black Roman numerals on white enamel plate. The minutes in Arabic numerals are engraved on the outside of the clock face. The side has embossed plant motifs and bluing metal hands. The whole timepiece is support by six baluster feet.

French movement with round plates in the Paris style. The wheel train or movement with spring drive keeps the watch running for eight days, with pin-pellet escapement and pendulum. Hour and half-hour striking mechanism using a countwheel and chime.

Imari porcelain is the western name given to the porcelain products made in the town of Arita in Japan’s Saga prefecture. This porcelain was very popular in Europe from 1650 onwards, when the Dutch East India Company imported it from Arita. It grew in popularity for a century, while the production of China porcelain was halted due to the civil War, though the latter finally replaced Arita porcelain in the mid-18^th century.

Imari porcelain designs played a decisive role in providing European ceramics with inspiration from the Orient at the Meissen and Vincennes porcelain production centres. The Imari porcelain production style was also copied in Europe and used for the faience work produced in Delft (Holland) and at Robert Chamberlain’s factory in Worcester (England) in the 19^th century.

After the Meiji era, Imari porcelain production underwent an industrialisation process that continues today.

Amelia Aranda Huete