What defines a 19th-century French four-glass mantel clock?

A French four-glass mantel clock is characterised by four bevelled glass side panels revealing the internal mechanical movement and pendulum. These timepieces typically incorporate marble bases and tops alongside gilt bronze or ormolu decorative elements influenced by Neoclassical and Louis XVI design styles.

What materials were traditionally used in French ormolu horology?

Craftsmen combined cast bronze dipped in gold amalgam, known as ormolu, with indigenous or imported marbles such as rouge marble, black Belgian marble, and statuary white marble. Dial faces were commonly made from fired enamel over copper plates with hand-painted numerals.

How do you identify authentic French timepieces from this era?

Authentic period pieces feature stamped movement plates with maker initials or Parisian horological awards, enamel dials with hand-painted maker details, and heavy gilded bronze mounts rather than painted base metals. The movement mechanisms typically feature mercury-compensated or heavy brass pendulums.

How can a French marble clock be styled in a modern interior?

Place the clock centrally on a fireplace mantelpiece, sideboard top, or formal library desk to serve as an anchor object. Balance the visual weight of the marble and brass by pairing it with minimalist ceramics, modern framed artwork, or neutral backgrounds.

How should rouge marble and gilt ormolu horological items be maintained?

Dust surfaces using a soft dry microfibre cloth, avoiding liquid chemicals or abrasive cleaners that can damage the gilded finish or etch the marble surface. Mechanical clock movements require professional servicing by a qualified horologist every five to seven years to ensure proper operation.

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Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

Name: Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA1188975
Price: 3600 GBP
Availability: InStock

19th century

For Sale by FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks

Description

A fine quality French rouge marble four-glass mantel clock by Le Roy & Fils, 13 - 15 Palais Royal Paris, Circa 1880.

The superior quality case with moulded marble and shaped cornice with gilded bead moulding, over marble upright quadrant corners and bevelled glass panels surrounded by gilded cast brass moulding. Fully opening rear door and opening bezel to the front, with gilded brass interior.

The shaped and moulded stepped base with gilded moulding decoration, over shaped gilded pad feet.

The variegated rouge marble is in excellent condition, having a beautiful deep red colour.

The decorative brass case mouldings retain the original gilded surface throughout and the interior has the original gilded surfaces.

The fine quality fully restored 8 day four pillar circular movement, striking the hours and half hour on a single bell, with Brocot regulation, stamped to the backplate Le Roy & Fils, 13154 Paris.

The clock keeps excellent time and the bell strike has a very good sound and tone.

The original gilded brass bob pendulum with polished steel rod, a very good pendulum of substantial quality.

The convex white enamel dial with Roman numeral chapter ring and outer Arabic numerals, with Brocot regulation square at twelve o’'clock, signed to the centre Le Roy & Fils, Paris, 13 -15 Palais Royal. A beautiful quality dial in untouched excellent original condition.

Ornate gilded brass hands and moulded gilt brass bezel with a gilded brass bow decoration to the upper edge.

This beautiful quality clock is in excellent original condition with no damage to the marble and the original gilding to the mounts.

A fine quality clock in excellent original condition with the movement fully restored.

All of our clocks have been sympathetically restored and have been expertly vetted for originality and good working order. All clocks purchased from us are guaranteed for two years.

All of our clock movements are restored by our horologist who works exclusively for us.

Our horologist is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute (FBHI), having 50 years of full time professional engagement in the repair & restoration of clocks, watches, music boxes & barometers. He was the recipient of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Bronze Medal.

Please contact us for a UK delivery price.

For overseas customers a fully insured door to door service is provided by our regular couriers, please contact us for a specific quotation.

All of our clocks are securely packed and comprehensive installation and maintenance instructions are included.

For more information please visit our website;

www.storyclocks.co.uk

Le Roy et fils was a French company making clocks and watches. The company was founded in 1785 by Basile Charles le Roy (1765–1839), who later passed it on to his son, Charles-Louis Le Roy.

Le Roy et Fils became successful and survived the turmoils of the French Revolution. It became clockmaker to Napoleon I, his sister Princess Pauline, Mme Mere and the King of Westphalia. After the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, it was a warrant holder for the Duke of Bourbon.

A shop was opened in London, in 1854 at 296 Regent Street under the name of Le Roy and Son.[1] The name was later changed to Le Roy and Fils. A second shop was opened in London in 1885 at 57 New Bond Street. Le Roy and Fils was a British Royal Warrant holder to Queen Victoria, and was the only foreign clockmaker that held a British royal warrant.

Physical Dimensions

Height

37cm (14.57")

Width

25cm (9.84")

Depth

19cm (7.48")

Declaration

FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks has dated this French Rouge Marble Mantel Clock to the 1880s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA1188975

Dealers Internal Reference

LeRoy26

Description

A fine quality French rouge marble four-glass mantel clock by Le Roy & Fils, 13 - 15 Palais Royal Paris, Circa 1880.

“

The superior quality case with moulded marble and shaped cornice with gilded bead moulding, over marble upright quadrant corners and bevelled glass panels surrounded by gilded cast brass moulding.

FJ & RD Story Antique Clocks

Fully opening rear door and opening bezel to the front, with gilded brass interior.

fig 1. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 1. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

The shaped and moulded stepped base with gilded moulding decoration, over shaped gilded pad feet.

The variegated rouge marble is in excellent condition, having a beautiful deep red colour.

The decorative brass case mouldings retain the original gilded surface throughout and the interior has the original gilded surfaces.

fig 2. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 2. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

The fine quality fully restored 8 day four pillar circular movement, striking the hours and half hour on a single bell, with Brocot regulation, stamped to the backplate Le Roy & Fils, 13154 Paris.

The clock keeps excellent time and the bell strike has a very good sound and tone.

fig 3. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 3. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

The original gilded brass bob pendulum with polished steel rod, a very good pendulum of substantial quality.

The convex white enamel dial with Roman numeral chapter ring and outer Arabic numerals, with Brocot regulation square at twelve o’'clock, signed to the centre Le Roy & Fils, Paris, 13 -15 Palais Royal. A beautiful quality dial in untouched excellent original condition.

fig 4. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 4. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

Ornate gilded brass hands and moulded gilt brass bezel with a gilded brass bow decoration to the upper edge.

This beautiful quality clock is in excellent original condition with no damage to the marble and the original gilding to the mounts.

fig 5. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 5. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

A fine quality clock in excellent original condition with the movement fully restored.

All of our clocks have been sympathetically restored and have been expertly vetted for originality and good working order. All clocks purchased from us are guaranteed for two years.

fig 6. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 6. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

All of our clock movements are restored by our horologist who works exclusively for us.

Our horologist is a Fellow of the British Horological Institute (FBHI), having 50 years of full time professional engagement in the repair & restoration of clocks, watches, music boxes & barometers. He was the recipient of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers Bronze Medal.

fig 7. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 7. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

Please contact us for a UK delivery price.

For overseas customers a fully insured door to door service is provided by our regular couriers, please contact us for a specific quotation.

All of our clocks are securely packed and comprehensive installation and maintenance instructions are included.

fig 8. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 8. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

For more information please visit our website;

www.storyclocks.co.uk

Le Roy et fils was a French company making clocks and watches. The company was founded in 1785 by Basile Charles le Roy (1765–1839), who later passed it on to his son, Charles-Louis Le Roy.

fig 9. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 9. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

Le Roy et Fils became successful and survived the turmoils of the French Revolution. It became clockmaker to Napoleon I, his sister Princess Pauline, Mme Mere and the King of Westphalia. After the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, it was a warrant holder for the Duke of Bourbon.

fig 10. A French four-glass mantel clock featuring a rouge marble top and base, gilt ormolu mounts, a ribbon bow crest, and an enamel dial signed Le Roy & Fils. — fig 10. Le Roy Paris, Rouge Marble and Ormolu Mount Mantel Clock.

A shop was opened in London, in 1854 at 296 Regent Street under the name of Le Roy and Son.[1] The name was later changed to Le Roy and Fils. A second shop was opened in London in 1885 at 57 New Bond Street. Le Roy and Fils was a British Royal Warrant holder to Queen Victoria, and was the only foreign clockmaker that held a British royal warrant.