Empire period ormolu and lapis lazuli mantel clock

This beautiful Empire period mantel clock is crafted from ormolu (gilt bronze) with a later lapis lazuli veneer. The clock is set on an elongated rectangular lapis lazuli base raised by six ormolu toupie feet. The front of the base is mounted with classicising ormolu motifs, including twin flanking ribbon-tied crossed arrows and a central pierced plaque featuring two putti and scrolling foliage. The base supports twin back-to-back ormolu sphinxes, between which is an ormolu curtain drape. Raised upon this drape, and set between the wingtips of the sphinxes, is the clock drum, from which hangs the ormolu pendulum, which takes the form of an Apollo solar emblem.

The ormolu drum contains a white enamel dial inscribed with Roman numeral hour marks. The drum is surmounted by a lapis lazuli top, which in turn is surmounted by an ornate ormolu finial comprising a basket of flowers and bundle of laurel branches, two of which drape down each side of the drum towards the backs of the sphinxes.