FS17: Three Day Fine Art Sale

Leroy ' Paris, A Black Marble Perpetual Calendar Mantel Clock

Auction Lot FS17/745

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Leroy ' Paris, A Black Marble Perpetual Calendar Mantel Clock (FS17/745) offered in our Three Day Fine Art Sale starting on 29th January 2013 at our salerooms in Exeter, Devon.

Lot Description

Leroy ' Paris, a black marble perpetual calendar mantel clock the eight-day duration movement striking the hours and half-hours on a bell, stamped on the backplate with the signature & serial number of the retailer, Leroy ' Paris, 13492, and the trademark of the maker of the roulant blanc, S Marti et Cie, Medaille de Bronze and oval stamp with the initials CAF quite probably the finisher of the movement for Leroy, with a visible Brocot escapement to the centre of the two-piece enamel dial, black Roman numerals and blued steel moon hands, signed to the centre for the retailer Leroy & Fils, 211 Regent Street, 13 & 15 Palais Royale, Paris, with a thermometer set below the dial showing both Reaumur and Fahrenheit, with a round barometer dial set to the lower right-hand side having two badges stamped on, with a second subsidiary dial having further subsidiary dials showing the moonphase, day & date and with the outer dial marked for the perpetual calendar changes and month, the black marble case of serpentine design with scroll sides, height: 51 cms.

Notes

Le Roy et Fils were established by Basile Charles Le Roy in 1785 and were well known and fine makers of clocks. Basile Charles Le Roy was the Master Clockmaker to Napolean and along with his son Charles-Louis were clockmaker's to the Princess Pauline and the Duke de Bourbon.

Examples of their work are in all the major collections as well in the Ministere de la Guerre, Paris. The Maison de Le Roy was founded in 1785 at Palais Royal & continued until the death of Charles at Versailles in 1865. They took on premises at 13-15 Galerie Montpensier, Palais Royal, Paris when the Duc d'Orleans opened the Palais Royal gardens for both the trade and public's use with many prestigious shops opening under the arcaded walkways. From 1885 their London retail outlet was at 57 Bond Street having moved from Regent Street.

Samuel Marti was one of the prolific French makers of the 1800s and was known to be working circa 1860 at Le Pays de Montbeliard, Paris making roulant blancs. Along with Japy Freres and Roux they set up a business in 1863 to market their movements to such firms as L'Epee. Their Paris address was Rue Vieille-du-Temple from 1870.