An Impressive French Boulle Mantle Clock

A 19th century French gilt brass mounted 'Boulle' tortoiseshell inlaid mantle clock The movement signed Vincenti et Cie The swept arched case with intricate brass inlay and foliate mounts surmounted by an urn above a fully glazed front door and sides on scrolling feet, the cast brass dial with separate Arabic and Roman enamel cartouche insets to the chapter ring, the winding holes on a matted and foliate case ground with blued steel hands, the twin spring barrel movement with Brocot escapement and suspension, with elaborate sunburst pendulum, case key, winding key and suspension key, 57cms high. The tortoiseshell is a dark brown with reddish and blond hues. All in condition, no issues with missing or lifting of brass or shell. Born in Corsica in 1786, Jean Vincenti's family moved to Montbeliard in 1791. By 1823, he had established a factory making rough movements for clocks and watches. The bulk of the ebauche/rough movement machinery used in the factory was self-made. The factory went bankrupt in 1828, but by October 1829, Albert Roux had possibly entered into partnership with Vincenti or possibly bought his factory outright; however, the name, Vincenti & Cie, was kept. Around 1830, in addition to the rough movements (of which 3,000 were being produced a year), mechanical devices were being made, including metronomes, oil lamps, music boxes, etc. In 1834, Roux took over an old sawmill and weaving factory and, as the building dated to 1773, updated it and based Vincenti & Cie there. Before this move, it was known in the area as L'usine de la Petite Raisse (The Factory of Petite Raisse); by the time Vincenti & Cie ceased trading, it was known as L'Usine Roux (Roux's Factory). Vincenti died in 1834, the same year Vincenti & Cie won a silver medal at the Exposition. They would go on to win medals at the Expositions of 1839,1844,1849,1855, and 1867. In 1850, workers' lodgings were built on the site and six years later, a house for Roux and his family was constructed within the factory's footprint. Albert died in 1858 and was succeeded by his son Amédée. His son would expand the output of the factory to encompass chiming clocks, travel alarm clocks, Morse code receivers, and several other devices. 1864 saw the addition of a foundry to the factory; in this same year, it is recorded that 5,500 rough clock movements were made per month. Amédée died in 1876, when his son was 9. It seems likely (based on similar situations with other horologists) that Amédée's wife, Emma de Freystedt, would have taken over the running of the factory until Albert had been educated. Albert was listed as an horological manufacturer, as were his father and grandfather, therefore, it seems likely he would have taken over the running of the factory eventually. 1890 saw another expansion into phonograph movements and mechanisms for various meters, extinguishers, etc. Initially, their customers had been in Paris and later the Jura region. By 1890, however, their client base had expanded to neighbouring Belgium and Switzerland, as well as slightly further afield in the UK and even the USA. To meet demand, they were making 80,000 clock movements per year, though this figure does include the clockwork motors and meters mentioned above. Around this same time, the foundry was being used to make brass and bronze wire, an operation that was expanded in 1895. That same year, a salesroom was established in Paris, 110 rue Vielle-du-Temple. The last expansion of the factory took place in 1902, when a new steam engine and steam engine room were installed to modernise the factory's water wheels and 1840s steam engine. By 1926, 57 people remained working in the factory, and the doors were finally closed in 1929. At its peak, in 1863, the Vincenti & Cie factory had employed 400 workers and been the largest rough movement manufacturer of clocks in France, except for Japy Frères.