A French Louis Philippe boulle mantel clock Signed for Breguet, Paris, circa 1845 The circular countwheel bell striking movement with recoil escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum incorporating Brocot type regulation to suspension, the backplate stamped BREGUET A PARIS, 329 to centre over further number 4 11 to lower margin, the rectangular blue on white Roman numeral enamel dial with blued steel pierced heart hands and inscribed Breguet a Paris to lower margin, the rectangular red shell veneered case with hinged gilt brass carrying handle to the engraved foliate scroll brass inlaid top centred with a bevel-glazed panel and with relief cast gilt edge moulding over front with rising glass within conforming brass and shell marquetry surround, the sides of serpentine outline and the rear with hinged door veneered in matching red shell, on stepped brass-edged skirt base with leaf cast gilt bun feet, 21.5cm (8.5ins) high. The Breguet family firm of clock and watchmakers was established by the highly important Swiss horologist Abraham Louis Breguet who was apprenticed at Versailles in 1762. In 1775 he set-up business at quai de l'Horloge in the Île de la Cité in Paris and became famous for the invention of innovative watch escapements including the tourbillon, automatic winding mechanisms, as well as an overcoil balance spring. Within ten years Breguet had commissions from the aristocratic families of France including one for a highly complicated watch for the French queen, Marie-Antoinette. In 1787 Abraham-Louis established a partnership with Xavier Gide, which lasted until 1791. During the revolutionary years Breguet was saved from the guillotine through his friendly association with the revolutionary leader Jean-Paul Marat, however he had to leave Paris returning to Switzerland before travelling to London. In 1795 he returned to Paris and three years later he was awarded an 'honorable distinction' - the highest award, for 'a free escapement with constant force, applicable to the improvement of both astronomical clocks and longitude clocks' at the 1798 'Exposition des produits de l'industrie française'. In around 1807 Breguet brought in his son, Antoine-Louis (who had previously been sent to London to study with the great English chronometer maker, John Arnold) as a business partner, and from this point the firm became known as 'Breguet et Fils'. The business subsequently grew from strength to strength, particularly in the field of marine chronometer development. When Abraham-Louis Breguet died in 1823 it was carried on by Louis-Antoine alone, and then after his subsequent retirement in 1833 under Abraham-Louis' grandson, Louis François Clément Breguet (1804-1883), before passing to his great-grandson, Louis Antoine (1851-1882), who was the last of the Breguet family to run the business.