Cartel d'applique and matching console
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Second quarter of the 18th century
This cartel d'applique with its matching console is a bracket clock attributed to the second quarter of the 18th century and signed by the Parisian horologist Charles Le Roy.
The clock features a violoné-shaped case decorated with polychrome floral motifs on a brown background, executed in vernis martin. The case is enhanced with gilded brass rocaille-style mounts, including foliage and flower appliques. The white enamel dial consists of thirteen individual pieces and displays Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, with brass hands. The movement is rectangular, featuring an anchor escapement, a count wheel numbered on the exterior, and a pendulum with a rear-mounted spring suspension.
Both the dial and the movement backplate bear the signature 'Charles Le Roy à Paris'. The clock measures 110 by 39 by 19 centimeters.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Bracket clock
- Maker
- Charles Le Roy
- Dating
- Second quarter of the 18th century
- Dimensions
- 110 x 39 x 19 cm
- Suspension
- Posterior spring suspension
- Place recorded
- France
- Case Decoration
- Vernis martin with floral motifs
- Dial Composition
- Thirteen-piece enamel dial
- Movement Features
- Anchor escapement
- Maker / attribution
- Charles Le Roy
Design
- Visible features
- • Polychrome floral painting on a brown ground • Gilded brass rocaille mounts throughout the case • White enamel dial composed of thirteen pieces • Numbered count wheel visible on the exterior of the movement
- Movement and Dial
- The clock dial is constructed from thirteen distinct pieces of white enamel. It features Roman numerals to track the hours and Arabic numerals to indicate the minutes, with brass hands used for time indication. The signature of the maker, 'Charles Le Roy à Paris', is placed directly on the dial. Internally, the movement is housed in a rectangular frame. It operates via an anchor escapement and includes a count wheel located on the exterior. The pendulum system currently utilizes a spring suspension, which the documentation specifies as a posterior addition. The backplate of the movement is signed consistent with the dial.
- Maker and Attribution
- Charles Le Roy was an active Parisian horologist during the reign of Louis XV, having achieved mastery in August 1733. His workshops were located on the rue des Prêcheurs and later on the rue Saint-Denis. Following his death in 1771, the workshop's activities were continued by his son, Étienne-Augustin Le Roy, who eventually secured the title of Horloger du Roi. The signature found on this particular clock serves as a marker of the output from the family establishment during the middle of the century.
- Case and Aesthetic Features
- The clock is presented as a cartel d'applique, incorporating both the clock housing and its matching console. The exterior finish utilizes a vernis martin technique, which displays a decorative scheme of pink floral branches against a tobacco-colored base. The visual impact is heightened by extensive use of gilded brass mounts. These elements are executed in a rocaille style, featuring intricate depictions of flowers and foliage that frame the clock body and the console. The assembly of these mounts provides a contrast against the dark background of the vernis martin surface.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The spring suspension for the pendulum is identified as a later modification
- Research required: Small signs of wear are mentioned by the auction description