Exotic of the Far East in decorative dock cases of the French workshops of the period of art deco

From the emergence of table clocks in 15^th century they had become a luxury item, during the reign of Luis XVII they were considered mostly as an artwork than functional item. During 18^th and 19 centuries decoration of clock cases showed changes of styles and movements in art: from the quaint baroque forms and fanciful rocaille till austere and solemn shine of Empire style, through the whimsy of historicism of the 19^th century to the characteristic lines of modernist style. On bases of exhibition catalogues, online-archives and biddings main parts in history of "Chinese" and "Japanese" styles in decoration of clock cases were examined in this article. Chinese motives in decoration of cases were really popular among French and English clockmakers of the 18^th century and spreading of this fashion led to appearance of the unique phenomenon - 'Chinese chinoise-rie". In the second part of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20^th century the theme of the Far East in arts was still relevant. Because of the World exhibitions of the 2d part of the 19^th century and political events new interest in Eastern culture was recorded. Jewelry artworks, that gathered together in the state museums and private collections and in different times were auction lots, of the Leading French firms of 1920-1930s analyses in the article: Car-tier, Bourdier, Verger Freres, Bousheron, Van Cleef & Arpels, Lacloche Freres. Main motives and most significant features of the Far East artistic traditions, that French masters use in the process of making the clock cases in art deco style, were find during the analyze. Geometrical ornaments of ancient Chinese bronze and jade, elements of colored stone and coral craving, painting genres shan shui ("mountain-water") and huaniao hua ("bird-and-flower painting"), architectural motives (composition of decktop screens, holy gates "torii"), using large surfaces of stone of one color or tone, attention to the enamel technique and etc. Listed jewelry items and jewelries houses of the 1920-1930s that were given in the article, show a significant role of the Far Eastern exotic in the establishment and development of art deco style. It should be noted that with all specificity of using of Far Eastern motives, this creative orientation of artists and designers of art deco period should be viewed only inside the artistic practice of the 19^th centuries. Exclusivity of the artistic program of the 1920-1930s was in the combination of the exotic elements with the "modern" forms and samples. Under the influence of the eccentric Far East, French jewelry houses actively started to use colour of the material, trying to find different unexpected colorist solutions and combination of the materials. Furthermore, Far Eastern artistic tradition gave the artists an opportunity to use unusual constructions and ornaments, that fit up perfectly with the architecture of the table clocks and with the peculiarity of art deco style.

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