L. Leroy et Cie, Paris a grande-sonnerie carriage clock the ...

Estimate

£2,000 - £3,000

L. Leroy et Cie, Paris a grande-sonnerie carriage clock the eight-day duration movement having a platform lever escapement and striking the grande-sonnerie quarters on two gongs, sounding the hour plus ting-tang quarters at each quarter, with a button to repeat the last sequence at will and a lever to the underside to allow for Grande-Sonnerie/Petite-Sonnerie or Silent, petite-sonnerie being the quarters without the hour at each quarter, the edge to the movement plates engraved L. Leroy et Cie, 7 Bvd. de la Madelaine, Paris, the white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals, blued-steel spade hands, a subsidiary alarm setting dial and signed L. Leroy & Co., Horlogers de la ... Paris, with a frosted gilt-brass mask, the angled Anglaise case with fluted columns and matching handle, complete with leather travelling box applied with intertwined monogram to the top F.M.V., height 16.5cm not including handle. Although unsigned, this clock would have been made for Leroy by the well-known carriage clock clockmaker Alfred Drocourt with the movement and case styles making this attribution near-certain. The serial number would suggest a date of manufacture of circa 1900 which fits in with the family history which records the clock being purchased as new from Leroy by Florence Mary Venables and was in the family by descent until purchased by the present owner from her great granddaughter. Leroy moved to 7 Boulevard de la Madelaine in 1899 having left their well-known address at Galerie Montpensier 13 & 15, Palais Royale. Reference: For an extensive history of the Leroy and Le Roy carriage clock making concernes see Charles Allix and Peter Bonnert, Carriage Clocks Their History & Development, Pub: Antique Collectors' Club 1974.