John Leroux, London. Twin Fusee Balloon Clock

An 18th century balloon shaped bracket or table clock by John Leroux of Charing Cross, dating from circa 1790. The waisted case surmounted by a brass pineapple finial over a drum housing the movement. The dial is behind a hinged convex glazed cast brass bezel to front and brass carrying handles to sides, over hipped concave-sided section forming the base. The front has an applied mount of a sunburst mask, the rear with keyhole shaped door incorporating fine scroll-pierced sound fret set within the frame of the case, on generous cavetto moulded skirt base incorporating break-arch recess to apron and with ogee bracket feet.

The five knopped pillar twin fusee bell striking movement with rounded angles to the rectangular plates and anchor escapement regulated by a long bob pendulum with an effective length of approximately 11.5 inches, the backplate signed J. Leroux, London to centre, the 7 inch circular single sheet silvered brass Roman numeral dial signed Leroux, Charing Cross to centre, with fine pierced steel hands and Arabic five minutes to outer track.

An identical clock is illustrated in 'English Bracket and Mantel Clocks' by Andrew Nicholls, 1981 p108 fig 46.

John Leroux is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as an 'eminent maker' who worked from Charing Cross 1781-1808. He was particularly well known as being one of the first makers to incorporate the lever escapement within his watches and was succeeded by James Rigby. A similar clock by Leroux, is illustrated in Barder, Richard C.R. The Georgian Bracket Clock 1714-1830 page 147 (plate IV/95).

Leroux is also mentioned in English Domestic Clocks By Herbert Cescinsky and Malcom Webster Illustration 357 p314 showing another balloon clock of the same form.

Examples of Leroux’s work can be found in the collections of the British Museum, The Science Museum, John Soanes Museum and the Welcome Collection.

Previously the property of Deutsche Bank; This clock was retailed by Percy Webster, there is one of his distinctive engraved plaques inside the case. Percy Webster, was a notable antiques dealer and clockmaker who operated during the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries and is considered by some to be the first notable authority on antiquarian clocks and later took up the position of Master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. His son, who followed his Father into business was equally respected and was responsible alongside Herbert Cescinsky for producing the book that became, and to some extend still is, the clock collector’s bible, “English Domestic Clocks”. We have included and image of Webster’s showroom, that tantalisingly has a balloon clock of the same form visible, proving that this superb clock was of considered to be of the highest quality by Webster.

This clock comes with our 2 year guarantee.

All of our clocks come with a 2 year guarantee, all of our clocks are overhauled and sympathetically restored, all of our clocks are authentic and supplied in good original condition.