French Empire Mantel Clock, ca. 1805

This French Empire mantel clock from circa 1805 is a beautiful example of the watchmaking art of the early 19th century. The striking train on the locking plate with full strikes for the hours full, single strikes for the half hours. The hours are indicated by Roman numerals and the minutes by Arabic numerals. Signed LeRoy Hr de Madame A Paris in the dial.

Features of the mantle clock

The rectangular base, supported by six pylon-shaped feet, with accolade-shaped sides and decorated on the front and sides with a continuous border of palmettes. The patinated case features a gilt frieze in the centre depicting a mythical hunting scene. The sides of the case are embellished with appliques of hunting motifs, including arrows, hunting horns and a hooded falcon.

Central Presentation

Surmounted on the case a resting Diana, goddess of hunting and the moon. She is represented by her attributes- a crescent moon in her hair, her hound and a shot pheasant by her feet as well as a hunting bow and a quiver full of arrows.

Basile-Charles Le Roy

Basile-Charles Le Roy (1765-1839) was born in Paris as the son of the horloger Bazile Le Roy (1731-1804). He was the founder of the Maison Le Roy near the Palais Royale at the Galerie de Pierre, renamed La Rue Égalité after the Revolution, and established a shop here in 1785, after the Duke of Orléans opened the Royal Palace gardens to the public and the buildings around them to trade. During the Revolution, he signed his clocks with ‘Elyor’, an anagram of his name Le Roy. He worked, among others, for Emperor Napoléon and his mother Maria-Letizia Bonaparte, also known as Madame Mère. A similar French pendulum is kept in the collection of the National Historical Museum in Moscow.

Specifications

Dimensions: height 55 cm; width 43 cm; depth 17 cm;

Material: gilt and patinated bronze, enamel dial

Signed on the dial: LeRoy Hr de Madame A Paris

Literature: Arcadi Gaydamak, Russian Empire, 2000, p. 47 Tardy, Dictionnaire des horlogers Français, p. 406

Availability

This rare piece is one of the unique items in the Broess Antiques collection. Contact us for more information.