A fine French patinated bronze travelling clock Le Roy and Fils, Paris, circa 1840 The circular eight-day bell striking movement with visible vertical cylinder escapement regulated by sprung three-arm monometallic positioned within an aperture to the dial and stamped No 255, LEROY & FILS, H'GERS DU ROI, A PARIS to backplate, the circular silvered Roman numeral dial with visible escapement beneath the XII numeral and blued steel moon hands set within generous gilt repeating lappet-leaf milled bevel-glazed hinged bezel, the case with hinged carrying handle modelled as entwined serpents over relief acanthus leaf and folate border cast shaped top above winged griffon inhabited scroll pediment and lotus leaf decorated cornice, the front panel with anthemion cast spandrel ornaments and the rear with hinged circular glazed aperture, on skirt base with stylised leaf decorated top mouldings and scroll feet, 23cm (9ins) high excluding handle. Provenance: The beneficiaries of the estate of a private collector, Wiltshire. The firm of 'L. Leroy & Cie' 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.