Louis XVI style ormolu mounted malachite mantel clock

This fine Louis XVI style mantel clock is crafted from ormolu and malachite, with the malachite veneer being a later addition.

The clock is designed in an architectural manner, with a shaped malachite base supporting four bowed columns—a pair to each side—as well as a pair of frontal pillars, all crafted from malachite. The columns and pillars support a shaped malachite entablature, which in turn supports the cylindrical ormolu clock drum. The drum contains a circular white enamel dial inscribed with Arabic numeral hour indices and adorned with delicately painted floral swags. The entablature of the clock is surmounted by twin urn-form malachite finials issuing ormolu floral bouquets, while the clock drum is topped with a malachite sphere upon which perches an ormolu eagle.

The ormolu mounts throughout are of distinctly Neoclassical form, particularly the rosettes and rinceaux friezes mounted to the base, the classicising capitals atop the pillars, and the Apollo mask sun-burst pendulum suspended below the clock drum.