Raingo Frères Louis XV Rococo Gilt Bronze Cartel Wall Clock

The dial of this clock is signed for the famous Parisian maker Raingo Frères with the mark repeated on the the movement backplate. The movement's serial number is also repeated on the case and the pendulum. Also on the movement back plate is the mark for the clockmaker - Japy Frères

The origins of the company Raingo Frères lie with Zacharie Joseph Raingo (1775-1847), a clockmaker, who was born in Belgium in 1775. Zacharie Joseph Raingo specialized in creating astronomical clocks. One of these creations, a planetary pendulum clock made in 1824, was purchased by King George IV of England and is now housed in Windsor Castle. Zacharie Joseph Raingo had four sons, Adolphe, Charles, Denis and Dorsant and together they formed Raingo Frères in 1823. The firm initially specialized in producing "Empire" and "Restauration" style clocks, manufacturing mantel clocks, table clocks, and wall-mounted clocks. By the mid-19th century, Raingo Frères had expanded the range of their output into other bronzes and furnishings. In the 1860s, the firm supplied several clocks and bronzes to Emperor Napoleon III and his wife Empress Eugenie, which now form part of the collection at the Musée du Louvre. Such commissions enhanced the reputation of Raingo Frères, which became internationally recognized for the very fine quality of their bronzes and gilding. As the reputation of the firm grew, they collaborated with other famed makers of the times including Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, Auguste Moreau and François Linke. The firm exhibited at the most important Exhibitions of the second half of the 19th century, winning a gold award at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris.

Japy Freres mark on the movement backplate