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Lot 84Y
An 18th century French quarter striking boulle-inlaid mantel clock with de Bethune's escapement Julien Le Roy, Paris
Amended
16 December 2015, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £2,500 inc. premium
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An 18th century French quarter striking boulle-inlaid mantel clock with de Bethune's escapement
Julien Le Roy, Paris
The cartouche case surmounted by a cockerel over a tapered caddy, with applied ormolu foliate mounts to the corners, raised on conforming feet, the shaped door with ormolu frame and fruiting tree, the surfaces decorated with contra-partie brass and polychrome horn boulle-work, the signed 4 inch enamel Roman and Arabic dial with off-set winding holes and gilt hands, the signed two train spring barrel quarter striking movement with de Bethune's escapement, silk suspension and outside countwheel strike on two bells, the arched plates united by five tapered pillars. 29cm (11.5in)
The cartouche case surmounted by a cockerel over a tapered caddy, with applied ormolu foliate mounts to the corners, raised on conforming feet, the shaped door with ormolu frame and fruiting tree, the surfaces decorated with contra-partie brass and polychrome horn boulle-work, the signed 4 inch enamel Roman and Arabic dial with off-set winding holes and gilt hands, the signed two train spring barrel quarter striking movement with de Bethune's escapement, silk suspension and outside countwheel strike on two bells, the arched plates united by five tapered pillars. 29cm (11.5in)
Footnotes
Julien Le Roy (1686-1759) was regarded by his contemporaries, as perhaps the most influential horologist of his era. He was a superb craftsman as well as a scholar who contributed the section on horology to the Encyclopédie. He was eulogised by Voltaire as the man responsible for the 18th century preeminence of French clock making.
Born in Tours and trained by his father, Le Roy arrived in Paris around 1700. He is generally thought to have served as journeyman to the Parisian horologist, Charles Le Bon. Le Roy received his freedom in 1713, and shortly after set up a workshop in the rue de Harlay, off la place Dauphine, where the most eminent 18th century Parisian clockmakers also worked.
In 1739, Julien Le Roy was appointed valet de chambre, horologer du Roi, and granted premises in the Louvre, which he maintained in addition to his atelier in the rue de Harlay. Le Roy's son Pierre (1717-1785) succeeded his father and devoted the latter part of his career to the Longitude problem and the development of marine timekeepers.
The movement has an example of the rare Chevalier de Bethune's escapement. Introduced in the 1720's and described by Antoine Thiout in his 1741 Traité de l'Horlogerie. Its popularity among French makers was brief. Consisting of two separately pivoted, but linked pallets, it is both difficult to make and less reliable than the anchor escapement. However, it was favored by LeRoy who frequently employed his own version of the escapement.
This clock was repaired by the George Daniels workshop, 21 Thornsett Road in 1967 listing re-bushing of the strike train, repairing of pivots and replacement of two main-springs.
Saleroom notices
Please note as this clock contains boulle, it would require a CITES license if exporting outside the EU.