Gilded bronze clock representing a satyr and his child

Gilded bronze clock representing a satyr holding a cornucopia and his child putting his foot on an amphora. They frame the movement decorated on the upper part with bunches of grapes and topped with a pine cone. The clock rests on a white marble base supported by six small feet.
The movement is signed Charles Le Roy (1709-1771)
End of the Louis XV period
Restorations of use
H. 30 x W. 34 x D. 13 cm

The clock of our study represents satyrs. They are the companions of the god Dyonisos, god of wine: hence the presence of a bunch of grapes. They are always represented with animal features such as hairy legs and horse hooves.

The clockmaker who signed our clock is known as Charles Le Roy. He was then the king's clockmaker. In 1788, an inventory mentions nine of his clocks, all of which were present in the inner apartments of Louis XV. Then, an inventory of the Menus Plaisirs of 1793 mentions a tenth clock, now kept at the Jean Paul Getty Museum. This clock was then in the council room of Louis XVI at the Tuileries, and has the signature of Etienne Martincourt on the case.
Moreover, the back of our movement is numbered "338". Thanks to the craftsman's documents, we know that in 1765, the numbering had reached 2340. Thus, by deduction we can assume that the clock would have been produced before this date, which corresponds completely to the stylistic analysis that dates it to the end of the Louis XV period.
This activity, rich in orders, perfectly highlights the talent of Charles Le Roy who worked for the greatest.

On the other hand, only one other clock of this model is known to us: it is the clock of the former Bernard B. Steinitz collection, reproduced in the book by Jean-Dominique Augarde ("Les ouvriers du temps"). The movement is not signed by Le Roy but by Ageron. However, thanks to this copy, we know the author of the bronze case since it is signed Etienne Portelette.

Sources :
Augarde (Jean-Dominique), Les ouvriers du temps, Antiquorum