Y A FINE LOUIS XV BOULLE BRACKET CLOCK

Y A FINE LOUIS XV BOULLE BRACKET CLOCKJulien Le Roy, Paris, mid 18th centuryThe two train going barrel movement with four knopped pillars pinned through the backplate enclosing large diameter spring barrels and five wheel trains, the going train now with anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum, the strike train with vertical hammer arbor sounding on a bell mounted within the superstructure of the case and numbered countwheel mounted to the right of the backplate over signature Julien LeRoy, AParis to lower margin, the 9.5. inch circular thirteen piece cartouche numeral dial with convex white enamel centre inscribed JULIEN LE ROY DE LA, SOCIETE DES ARTS within chapter ring with shaped blue-on-white enamel Roman hour numerals within rococo borders and every minute numbered to outer track, with trip-hour lever at nine o'clock and sculpted blued steel hands, the engraved cut brass and brown shell marquetry decorated waisted case with substantial surmount cast as Juno and the eagle set on a gadroon-cast caddy to the concave-sided superstructure veneered with leafy scroll decoration and applied with foliate mounts to angles, over generous rocaille scroll cast arched cornice to front with brass-framed arched glazed door enclosing marquetry decorated floor and back panel to interior and incorporating cast panel with further eagle and foliate strapwork to apron, the surround decorated with leafy scrolls within line border, the sides with recessed arched windows within repeating leaf cast brass surrounds over hipped swollen base sections further decorated with marquetry panels, on generous scroll cast feet with foliate apron between; with a wall bracket of ogee-outline veneered in contra-parti with scrolling foliage over gadrooned panels with pendant infill flanked by female mask and acanthus cast front angle mounts, the base with ogee shaped acanthus cast band over leafy bud pendant finial.The clock 86cm (34ins) high, 39.5cm (15.5ins) wide, 16cm (6.25ins) deep; the clock and wall bracket 109cm (47ins) high overall. Provenance: The property of a private collector, north London. Purchased at Bonhams, London sale of Fine Clocks 8th July 2015 (lot 94) for £4,000. Julien LeRoy was born in Tours and was trained as a clockmaker by his father before moving to Paris in 1699 where he was apprenticed under Le Bon. During his apprenticeship it is said that LeRoy completed a watch in eight-days; he became a Master in 1713 and set up a workshop in the rue de Harlay, off la place Dauphine, where the most eminent 18th century Parisian clockmakers also worked. LeRoy was also a co-founder of the Société des Arts set-up to promote horological knowledge and served as juré 1735 to 1737. In 1739 he was appointed 'Valet de Chambre, Horologer du Roi', and granted premises in the Louvre. LeRoy however chose not to relocate there and remained at rue de Harlay sending his son, Pierre to work there instead. Julien Le Roy's contribution to horology was substantial and included regulators that showed mean and true time, an exemplary example of which is at the Hôtel des Missions Etrangères. Le Roy also resolved many problems to do with watchmaking to ensure they were easier to construct and simpler to maintain. One aspect was his adoption of George Graham's cylinder, which eventually resulted in reducing the watch's thickness. He also worked alongside Henry Sully to develop longitude timepieces and, unlike many, freely shared his ideas with his contemporaries. Julien LeRoy continued at rue de Harlay until his death in 1759 and can be credited as being pivotal in reversing the decline of French watch and clock making which had taken place at the start of the 18th century. The presence of the text 'SOCIETE DES ARTS' alongside Julien LeRoy's signature to the centre of the dial of the current lot would suggest that it was most likely made during the time he served as juré (1735-39) for the organisation.Condition Report: As catalogued the movement has been converted from verge escapement to anchor escapement hence the escape wheel and pallets are not original otherwise the mechanism appears to have survived in fine original condition with no other visible alterations or significant replacements. The movement is in working condition however as it is a little dirty/dusty and clean and overhaul is advised; the head for the hour-bell hammer is missing. The dial is in fine original condition with the only noticeable faults being some slight enamel chipping . The case is in good original condition with no significant losses to the brass marquetry and only a small section of tortoiseshell veneer missing from the upper edge of the right hand side of the superstructure. Although there are no significant losses the brass marquetry is noticeably lifting to the both the curved sections to the sides beneath the windows and to a lesser extent above the windows and to the sides of the superstructure; the rear door also has some slight lifting to the inside surface. The tortoiseshell veneers generally has some light 'blooming' to the surface, the mounts generally retain much of their gilding but with wear to t high spots; the figural surmount has more noticeable tarnishing, wear and discolouration. Faults to the case are otherwise limited to age related bumps, scuffs and shrinkage.The bracket has some noticeable lifting to the front veneers with additional noticeable localised losses to the left hand side. The upper moulding to the left hand side is currently detached. Although well-matched the bracket is probably not original to the clock.Clock has pendulum, case key but no winder. Condition Report Disclaimer