A fine French engraved pierced fretwork panel inset gilt brass anglaise riche cased petit-sonnerie striking carriage clock with push-button repeat and alarm Le Roy and Fils, Paris, circa 1900 The eight-day two train movement ting-tang striking the quarters on a graduated pair of gongs and sounding the hour every quarter hour on the larger of the two, with silvered platform lever escapement, alarm sounding on the smaller gong the backplate with enamel Arabic numeral alarm setting dial to centre and stamped with serial number 7072 to the lower left hand corner of the backplate, the dial with gilt brass foliate scroll pierced centre within cream enamel Roman numeral chapter ring inscribed LE ROY & FIS, 52 NEW BOND STREET, MADE IN FRANCE, PALAIS ROYAL, PARIS and with blued steel hands within fine bright-cut engraved and pierced bird inhabited foliate strapwork rectangular mask with angled fillet outer border, the frosted gilt brass bevel-glazed anglaise riche case with spiral reeded baton to the hinged carrying handle over thick top glass, complex moulded cornice and fluted frieze, the angles with fluted three-quarter columns incorporating copper finished Corinthian capitals and the sides with fine bird inhabited foliate pierved and engraved blind frets set behind bevelled glasses, the rear with further conforming infill centred with a Classical urn to the back door, on generous cavetto moulded skirt base incorporating shallow block feet, the underside with Silence/Sonnerie selection switch, 18cm (7ins) high excluding handle. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands. The firm of 'Le Roy and Fils' can be traced back to 1785 when the business was founded by Basille Charles Le Roy at 60 Galerie de Pierre, Palais Royal, Paris. During the Revolutionary years the firm relocated to 88 Rue de L'Egalite before finally settling at Galerie Montpensier, 13 and 15 Palais Royal. In 1828 Basille Charles died leaving the business to his son, Charles-Louis, who continued producing clocks signed 'Le Roy & Fils' until 1845 when the firm was sold to his former employee Casimir Halley Desfontaines; who in turn was succeeded by his son M. George Halley Desfontaines in 1883. In 1888 M. George Halley died leaving the business to his brother Jules Halley who then took-in as a partner Louis Leroy (apparently no relation to the founders of the firm). In 1899 the firm left Palais Royal and moved to Boulevard de La Madeleine where it continued trading in the hands of various successors until well into the 20th century. The fine quality pierced and engraved gilt brass panels of the current lot coupled with the robust anglaise riche design result in clock very much geared to the English taste with its overall feel and quality reminiscent of examples originating from the Leading London workshops.