A FRENCH LOUIS XVI STYLE ORMOLU MANTEL CLOCKL. LEROY ET CIE, PARIS, CIRCA 1900The circular eight-day bell striking movement with platform lever escapement regulated by sprung bimetallic balance, the backplate boldly engraved No. 19482 to the upper left hand edge and signed L. Leroy & Cie A Paris to lower edge, the 4.5 inch circular convex white enamel Roman numeral dial further inscribed L. Leroy & Cie, PARIS, 7 Boul'd de la Madeleine to centre and with Arabic five minutes beyond the minute track, with fine scroll-pieced gilt hands set behind convex glazed hinged engine-milled gilt bezel, the case crisply cast and chased with surmount of basket of flowers draped down to a pair of goats each standing on hind legs on top of D-shaped side platforms held aloft by a pair of winged putti, the front with fine Neo-classical panel relief-cast with flaming torch flanked by acanth scrolls issuing cornucopiae beneath the dial, on D-ended cavetto moulded platform base incorporating panels cast in high relief with fruiting swags over toupe feet.42cm (16.5ins) high, 31cm (12.25ins) wide, 13cm (5ins) deep.The firm of 'Leroy et Cie' can be traced back to 1785 when the biness 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 biness 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 biness 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 vario successors until well into the 20th century. The current lot would have been made very shortly after L. Leroy et Cie's relocation to 7 Boulevard de La Madeleine in 1899.