Hello Jeannie,
Thank you for sending in this mantel clock to mearto.com for an appraisal. I shall try to help you with that this evening.
TITLE:
Brass and beveled glass with champlevé trim, round crystal regulator mantel clock with mercury pendulum, retailed by Le Roy of Paris and made by clockmaker G. Megnin (working c. 1877-1900), Saint-Nicolas d’Aliermont, France circa 1890-1895.
DESCRIPTION:
Case – 10-3/4 inch tall 7-1/5 inch wide 6-1/8 inch deep, round gilt and lacquered brass post and four curved, beveled glass paneled mantel clock with a door at the front for accessing the dial and tat the back for providing access to the movement. The gilt brass flat round pediment has a circumferential frieze of multi-colored champlevé brass and enameling work. Below the beveled glass sections is another similar band of champlevé enamel. There is a broad round gilt brass base with a single step sitting flat to the surface with no feet.
Dial – Secured with three brass connections to the case @12, 4 and 9 this dial has a colorful champlevé bezel around the dial. This is a white porcelain dial with black enameled Breguet-form Arabic hours, open dotted minute track to the outside with Arabic markers placed every fifteen minutes around the dial periphery. There are bouquets of colorful flowers which scallop the hours from the inside and each terminate in a dot marking the half hours.
A Brocot aperture @12 is used for altering the speed of the movement. The dial center has a nine pointed star colored in lavender, blue and gold set against an applied gilt brass rococo rosette encircling gilded Louis XVth- style hands. The dial is signed by the retailer, “Le Roy of Paris, France”.
Movement – Round solid brass plate movement connected with tubular brass pillars which are pinned at the back plate, anchor escapement, steel cut pinions, steel arbors, and no evidence of an outside countwheel (makes this movement post 1880 at the earliest). Double tube mercury pendulum rod. The movement is powered by two barrel springs, of eight day duration and striking a coiled Cathedral gong on the hour and half hour. The movement has the medallion of the clockmaker at the base of the rear plate underneath the engraved words, “Made in France”. The round medallion is partially legible and was awarded to George Megnin for winning a silver medal at the Paris exposition of 1890. There is a Brocot spring suspension at the top of the back plate from which the double mercury pendulum hangs. The pendulum bob contains genuine liquid mercury and the two tubes are held in place by brass hourglass pillars to the sides and top and bottom with champlevé ornamented clamps with tiny polished brass finials at the end of the clamps. French winding key is present. The numbers on the back plate of the movement are the models and other factory numerals.
CONDITION:
Case – In fair to good used condition with the surface showing signs of the lacquer or gilding fading in areas and speckles of oxidation of the underlying metal. The round floor inside of the case has developed a Craqueleur look from the finish cracking and degrading. The glass is original to the case.
Dial – This is one of the best such dial that I have seen and it remains in superb condition with no hairline fractures and wonderful 18th century style French gilt hands.
Movement – In very good original condition and assumed it will function as is, or with a cleaning.
Commentary – The medallion on the back plate was a challenge because it is only partially legible and is a name not often seen. However, it is found in horological reference books. Very little is known of George Megnin except that he came from the cradle of French clockmaking and watch making in Saint Nicolas d’Aliermont, near the town of Dieppe which sits along the English Channel. He appears to have been working making movements from circa 1877-c.1900. He obviously supplied retailers such as the House of Le Roy in Paris.
HISTORY:
THE NAME LE ROY IS WELL KNOWN AS BEING IMPORTANT WATCHMAKERS AND CLOCKMAKERS IN FRANCE. SORTING THROUGH THEIR RELATIONSHIPS IS DIFFICULT. THEY ARE NOT ALL RELATED. LE ROY WAS A COMMON NAME. ALTHOUGH I HAVE THE HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS LINES OF LEROY I WILL NOT PRESENT THAT TO YOU SINCE YOU HAVE A LONG APPRAISAL TO CONCENTRATE ON, UNLESS YOU WISH TO HAVE IT. (You can always write back to me if you really want to read the entire history of this family. I have it saved on my computer)
COMPARABLES:
https://live.dumoart.com/lots/view/4-P3EQX/g-megnin-french-medaille-argent-onyx-champleve-crystal-mantle-clock-19thc-h-17-w-12 (Sold in the USA at auction in 2020 for $1200)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/46513171_a-gilt-bronze-mounted-cut-crystal-floor-clock (Sold for $2750 in 2016)
https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/51254369_french-enameled-bronze-mantel-clock (sold for $750 in 2017)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/french-brass-cased-and-beveled-glass-mantle-clock-circa-1890-works-wEQES4nElP (sold for $275 in 2009)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/3-french-louis-xv-style-mantel-clock-garnitures-uc89tQOnQs (sold for $400 in 2019, and withdrawn by owner)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/an-impressive-french-mantel-clock-RrBlzQZewg (Sold for $391 in 2017)
https://www.barnebys.com/realized-prices/lot/a-french-champleve-enamel-and-green-onyx-clock-garniture-ZGFAbW_4U7 (sold for $2052 in 2014)
PRICING:
The pricing in today’s market is related to condition (the condition of your case does hurt the value) and the complexity of the materials used in making the clock, and whether or not there is a clock set (vases, urns, etc.) accompanying the clock case. The fair market value of your clock should be in the range of $750-$1000, with retail prices about twice that. Thank you for using mearto.com for your appraisal. It was my pleasure to examine both of your interesting mantel clocks.
I hope you continue to enjoy this fine antique clock now over a century old. My best,
David