Le Roy & Fils Four Glass Bracket Clock – Late 19th Century.
£2,250.00
A late 19th century French brass-cased four-glass mantel clock of elegant and restrained proportion, standing 36cm high. The case, with rounded angles and bevelled glass panels to all sides, is typical of the Parisian goût for clarity and precision in the decades around 1880. The substantial cast brass framework, combined with full glazing, allows the movement and pendulum to be appreciated from every aspect — a deliberate celebration of mechanical refinement.
The two-piece white enamel dial, signed Le Roy & Fils, is classically arranged with black Roman hour numerals and a visible Brocot escapement set into the upper section. The Brocot system, allowing regulation from the dial side without dismantling the case, represents one of the most practical technical innovations of mid-19th century French clockmaking. Its presence here reflects both quality and modernity for the period.
The eight-day movement strikes the hours and half-hours on a coiled gong and is regulated by a mercury-compensated pendulum, designed to counteract the effects of temperature variation. The combination of Brocot regulation and mercury compensation places this firmly within the upper tier of commercial Paris production.
Founded in the 18th century and later appointed clockmakers to European royalty, Le Roy & Fils maintained an international reputation for scientific precision and refined workmanship. Clocks of this calibre were retailed not only in Paris but also in London and other major capitals, appealing to a clientele that valued technical exactitude as much as decorative elegance.
A fine example of the mature French four-glass form — architectural, precise, and eminently practical.
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