Royal Mantel Clock

This royal mantel clock features a cast gilt-brass case in the French rococo style, mounted on four scroll feet embellished with shells. Atop the case perches an eagle with one open and one closed wing, resting upon a draco with an open mouth and foliate-tipped snake tail. The body displays pierced side panels, flowers, shells, batwings, a heart-shaped cartouche on the front apron, and superimposed shells on the reverse.

The 4.25-inch circular enamelled dial possesses a cobalt blue centre, a Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five-minute markers, and concentric rings indicating the signs of the Zodiac, sunrise for each sign, and date-of-the-month tracks with named months. Steel hour and minute hands emanate from a central chased gold solar mask, along with a calendar hand. The movement is an eight-day spring-driven going train with a circular five-pillar single chain fusee, verge escapement, and short-bob pendulum, signed 'Clay' on the back of the movement. Scratched repair inscriptions on the back of the dial plate read 'CRMX 326' alongside 'September/99 Oct/06'.

Ordered in February and delivered in August 1736, the clock was supplied by jeweller Peter Dutens. The movement and dial were designed by Charles Clay in London, while the gilt-brass case was made in Paris.