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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Regulator clock

Louis XV style regulator clock

Partially verified

This floor-standing regulator clock is attributed to cabinetmaker Balthazar Lieutaud, featuring a case crafted from rosewood veneer on oak with ormolu mountings. The silver and gold-plated dial is signed by the watchmaker Julien Le Roy. The dial displays black Roman hour numerals and Arabic minute numerals, along with a date and month aperture. The movement, which sits within the case, is a 19th-century replacement, as are the pendulum and the current driving mechanism. The clock has a height of 223 cm, width of 68 cm, and depth of 34 cm. It incorporates a pierced sun aperture for the indication of hours and minutes, a blued second hand, and a subsidiary second hand. The piece includes spring suspension of the pendulum and uses a rope drive.

Front view of the regulator clock, showing the wood-veneered case and dial.
Front view of the regulator clock, showing the wood-veneered case and dial. — Lempertz (via Invaluable). Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.invaluable.com
Category
Clock · Regulator clock
Maker / attribution
Julien Le Roy
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
1685
Source-reported date
Not established
Source-reported place
Not established

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case Construction

The clock is housed in a floor-standing case attributed to the cabinetmaker Balthazar Lieutaud. The exterior is constructed from rosewood veneer applied over an oak substrate, which serves as the primary structural material for the frame.

The case is accented with ormolu mountings, which provide decorative elements consistent with the Louis XV style. These mounts are applied to the exterior facade, including the area surrounding the pendulum viewing window and the base, providing visual definition to the wood grain patterns.

Evidence for this section
  • “Artist or Maker Balthazar Lieutaud”
  • “Rosewood veneer on oak, ormolu mountings.”

Dial and Indications

The clock features a silver and gold-plated dial, which the auction description attributes to Julien Le Roy. The dial displays black Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic numerals for the minutes, arranged in a traditional layout.

Specific apertures are integrated into the face, including a pierced sun aperture designed for the hour and minute indicators. A subsidiary second hand is present, accompanied by a dedicated blued hand for tracking seconds. Additionally, the dial includes an aperture for displaying both the date and the month.

Evidence for this section
  • “Silver and gold plated dial with black Roman hours and Arabic minutes, date aperture with date and month”
  • “Pierced sun aperture for hour and minutes, one blued hand for the second and a subsidiary second.”

Movement and Condition

The interior components of the clock have undergone significant changes since its original production. The auction description states that only the dial remains from the period associated with Julien Le Roy. The mechanics and the pendulum are 19th-century replacements.

The clock currently operates with a day-running movement that utilizes spring suspension for the pendulum and a rope drive system. These elements represent the current functional state of the clock rather than its original 18th-century configuration.

Evidence for this section
  • “In this clock, unfortunately, only the dial remains of the period, the mechanics and the pendulum were replaced in the 19th century.”
  • “Day-running with spring suspension of the pendulum and rope.”

Open research questions

  • What is the evidence supporting the attribution of the case to Balthazar Lieutaud?
  • Are there any maker's marks or stamps on the movement plates that identify the 19th-century manufacturer?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Louis XV style regulator clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerJulien Le Roy“The dial bears the name of one of the most important watchmakers of the first half of the 18th century: Julien Le Roy”
CabinetmakerBalthazar Lieutaud“Artist or Maker Balthazar Lieutaud”
MaterialsRosewood veneer, oak, ormolu“Rosewood veneer on oak, ormolu mountings.”
Height223 cm“Dimensions H 223, W 68, D 34 cm.”
ComponentsDial, movement, pendulum“In this clock, unfortunately, only the dial remains of the period, the mechanics and the pendulum were replaced in the 19th century.”
Dial detailsSilver and gold-plated“Silver and gold plated dial with black Roman hours and Arabic minutes”

Visible details

  • Rosewood veneer on oak cabinetry with ormolu mounts
  • Silver and gold-plated dial with Roman and Arabic numerals
  • Pierced sun aperture for hour and minute indication
  • Subsidiary seconds dial visible on the clock face

Research qualifications

  • The mechanics and pendulum are reported as 19th-century replacements
  • The source identifies the cabinetmaker as Balthazar Lieutaud without providing specific primary documentation

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

A Louis XV style regulator clock

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record a0e0a04c94

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Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

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