Howell & James of Regent Street London Mantel Clock C.1870

An exhibition quality 19th Century French ormolu and porcelain panel mantel clock retailed by Howell and James of Regent Street and made by Vincenti & Cie, Paris Circa 1870,

The 3.5"-inch enamelled dial with blue cartouche decorated Roman chapter ring, signed to the centre for Howell & James with blued steel Breguet style hands.

The fully restored two-train French movement striking the hours and half hour on a single bell, engraved Howell & James to the backplate, with medaille d'Argent exhibition stamp, Vincenti & Cie and numbered 456.

The original brass bob pendulum also numbered 456.

The finely cast case with the original highlighted and matt gilded work, surmounted by a deep rose coloured Sevres-style oval panel with cherub, flanked by two finely cast cherub supports to an arched pediment with beautiful urn finials, over extremely well cast and chased caryatids columns flanking the rose coloured panel with finely painted cherub decoration, the sides with similar panels decorated with matching cherubs. The inverted breakfront base with toupie feet.

This clock is in excellent original condition, the dial and sevres panels are in perfect order, very crisp and a wonderful deep colour complimenting the very fine castings which have superb original gilding.

Dimensions 14" tall x 8" wide x 6" deep

All of our clocks have been sympathetically restored and have been expertly vetted for originality and good working order. For further details about us please visit our website www.story clocks.co.uk

All of our clock movements are restored by our horologist, who is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute (FBHI), having 35 years of full time professional engagement in the repair & restoration of clocks, watches, music boxes & barometers. He was the recipient of the 1977 Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Bronze Medal.

Please contact us for a UK delivery cost.

For overseas customers we are able to offer a fully packed/crated and insured door to door shipping service with full instructions, please contact us for a price.

Howell James & Company were a firm of jewellers and silversmiths based in Regent Street in London which operated between 1819 and 1911.

The firm Howell and James was founded in 1819 by James Howell and Isaac James who were originally silk mercers and retail jewellers. The company had premises at 5, 7 and 9 Regent Street and was noted for the variety and quality of its stock. In 1838 James left the business and the partnership then became known as Howell James & Co. By 1865 the firm employed over 140 women, most of whom lived above the shop.

The firm exhibited in London, at the Great Exhibition in 1851 and at the 1862 International Exhibition, and in Paris and the International Exposition of 1867. It sold items by students and designers of the South Kensington School.

At the London exhibitions of 1871 and 1872 the company exhibited jewellery by C.L. Eastlake, M. D. Wyatt, F. Leighton and L. F. Day. The company's 1878 Paris Exhibition stand was designed by Day. In 1889, company employee J. Llewellyn moved to Liberty & Co taking with him exclusive selling rights.

In 1881 the premises were reconstructed and these incorporated art pottery galleries. An exhibition was staged, of architectural faience, produced to the designs of M. B. Adams by Burmantofts. In 1884 the company became a limited company and their name changed to Howell & James Ltd.[1]

Notable items

A example of a Lewis Foreman Day clock, designed in about 1880, and made by Howell James & Co., with ebonised birch wood case and a porcelain face, is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.[3]