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Lot Essay
L. Leroy & Cie are recorded working at 7 Boulevard de la Madeleine, Paris from circa 1880 until early the 20th Century. Immediately prior to the First World War they were producing hump back carriage clocks with various degrees of complexity. The present clock, being grande sonnerie and with full year calendar and moon phase, was most likely one of their most complicated.
A grande sonnerie hump back carriage clock of closely related design, Leroy No. 22792, also with calendar but without moon phase sold, The Dr Eugene and Rose Antelis Collection of Important French Carriage Clocks, Christie's South Kensington, lot 75. Another, but less complicated petite sonnerie example without calendar or moon, Leroy No. 18080, sold in the same sale, lot 76. Further examples of Leroy hump back carriage clocks are, Leroy, No. 19303, illustrated, J. Fanelli, A Century of Fine Carriage Clocks, New York, 1987, p. 98. Like the present clock that is grande sonnerie with perpetual calendar and moon phase. And Leroy No. 18300, illustrated, D. Roberts, Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks, Atglen, 1993, p, 114, fig. 6-55. That clock is petite sonnerie and does not have moon or calendar work.
The case of the present clock is a classic example of a 'hump back' case first devised by the eminent clock and watch maker Abraham Louis Breguet. This case style has been reproduced in various forms over many years and used by several makers such as, James Ferguson Cole, Richard Jump, Haley, Charles Frodsham and Nicole Nielsen (For examples see Derek Roberts and Joseph Fanelli op cit.).
A grande sonnerie hump back carriage clock of closely related design, Leroy No. 22792, also with calendar but without moon phase sold, The Dr Eugene and Rose Antelis Collection of Important French Carriage Clocks, Christie's South Kensington, lot 75. Another, but less complicated petite sonnerie example without calendar or moon, Leroy No. 18080, sold in the same sale, lot 76. Further examples of Leroy hump back carriage clocks are, Leroy, No. 19303, illustrated, J. Fanelli, A Century of Fine Carriage Clocks, New York, 1987, p. 98. Like the present clock that is grande sonnerie with perpetual calendar and moon phase. And Leroy No. 18300, illustrated, D. Roberts, Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks, Atglen, 1993, p, 114, fig. 6-55. That clock is petite sonnerie and does not have moon or calendar work.
The case of the present clock is a classic example of a 'hump back' case first devised by the eminent clock and watch maker Abraham Louis Breguet. This case style has been reproduced in various forms over many years and used by several makers such as, James Ferguson Cole, Richard Jump, Haley, Charles Frodsham and Nicole Nielsen (For examples see Derek Roberts and Joseph Fanelli op cit.).