French repeating coach clock with alarm and date Circa 1760

Silver repeating coach clock with alarm by Jullien Le Roy
–
A remarkable and extremely rare ornate rococo French carriage clock of historical interest, with a quarter repeater, alarm and date, circa 1760. Accompanied with original leather transport box.
Silver case, the backside finely decorated with engraved cartouches, rocailles, volutes and foliate decor, open-worked edge, rear bell. The lunette inside engraved A 1 12 68/R could either be an inventory number or a monogram with a date. Enamel en bosse dial with radial Roman hours numerals, minutes track with Arabic five minutes numerals, outer track with Arabic date numerals, inner alarm track, and Louis XV hands. Signed full plate movement, chain/fusee, two florally engraved barrels for striking- and alarm train, three hammers, verge escapement, three-arm brass balance.
–
Diameter: 132 mm
–
Weight: 1130 g
–
Signed: Jullien Le Roy à Paris
–
According to the consignor – who is a direct descendant of master of household Gottlob Heinrich von Minckwitz (1775-1851) – the engraving could be a record of the presentation of the clock by Saxon King Anthony (Anton Rex, 1827-1836) to Gottlob Heinrich von Minckwitz.
–
If the engraving stands for a date, the presentation must have taken place well before December 1, 1868, though, in von Minckwitz lifetime. The cursive lettering, which was added later, could also possibly represent the watch’s production date and stand for 1768, or even the date when the clock may have been purchased for Saxon Prince Anthony. He was born in 1755 and accessed the throne of Saxony, however unwillingly, in 1827 at the age of 71. According to the descendant, we can accept that the initials “AR” derive from the household inventory list (or even that of the Saxon court at the time) – no one in the family line carries the same initials and, even more significantly, other gifts from the Saxon King Anthony to the family are marked with the same initials.