Timepiece
Pierre Le Roy (1717-1785)
Category
Horology
Date
circa 1785
Materials
kingwood, oak, gilt brass, glass, enamel, steel, brass
Measurements
250 x 160 x 110 mm
Place of origin
Paris
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276665
Summary
Eight day quarter repeating, calendar timepiece mantel clock in ormolu-mounted, kingwood-veneered case by Pierre Le Roy, Paris, circa 1785. Rectangular, 4 pillar going-barrel movement, signed on the lower backplate: “ Pierre Le Roy AParis”, and now with 19th century Swiss lever platform escapement (marked:”40420”). Pull quarter repeating on one bell, the quarters sounded by double blows. The 10 cm diameter, convex, white-enamel dial has roman numerals and arabic five-minute figures and a concentric calendar dial, with arabic date figures, inside the hour circle. The plain white dial centre is signed: “PIERRE LE ROY / A PARIS”. The hour and minute hands are in delicate, pierced gilt-brass and the calendar hand is a plain blued-steel arrow pointer. The rectangular case is veneered in kingwood on an oak carcass, with quartered veneers on the front and sides and cross banding to the edges. It has fine gilt brass (ormolu) scrolling foliate mounts on the corners, with a gilt-brass moulding round the top edges and a gilt brass stirrup type carrying handle to the top. The dial is protected with a convex glass in a moulded gilt-brass bezel, below which is the winding hole in the centre of the case, with a brass collar lining the hole around the steel square. On the underside of the case is a double roller pulley inset into the base, through which silk cords run to either side for the pull-repeating (only one cord present). Note: The platform escapement is a 19th century replacement. The original platform escapement probably incorporated a verge escapement with balance, or may have incorporated a cylinder escapement or a derivative of that type. The bell and standard may be later, 19th century, replacements.
Makers and roles
Pierre Le Roy (1717-1785), maker