19th Century Ormolu-Mounted and Marble Portico Mantel Clock

Inventory Number: C1809025

Made circa early 19th century, the dial signed Samuel Roi & fils. Ormolu-mounted and marble case. Classic 8-day French circular two-trains movement, verge escapement, one bell.

Functions: hours, minutes, strike on hours, and half-hours.

Samuel Roi & Fils
The celebrated firm was founded in 1770 in La Chaux-de-Fonds by Samuel Roi or Roy (1746-1822). The firm specialized in the manufacture of scientific clocks, thus establishing the precision clock industry in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Quickly renowned for their horological masterpieces also outside Switzerland, Samuel Roi was honored in 1783 for the invention of a perpetual clock by the King of Prussia "for his efforts to carry the art of horology and mechanics to the highest degree of perfection".
During the French Revolution, the celebrated watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet was working in Switzerland and cooperated with Samuel Roi & Fils on the development of decimal, chimney, and other clocks. Such clocks, marine chronometers, and most notably three-wheel weight-driven clocks, including a three-wheel weight-driven skeleton clock with compound pendulum, Republican, and Gregorian calendar, and thermometer, were made to Breguet's design by the manufacture and delivered to Paris. It appears that Breguet invited Samuel Roi to work for him in Paris but he declined (see Swiss Timepiece Makers 1775-1975 by Kathleen H. Pritchard, p. R-94).