A petite, demure woman in the guise of Aphrodite ( Venus) plays with her lap dog in her swan-drawn chariot in this fine example of design by Jean-Andre Reiche dating from circa 1809. The costume and hairstyle reflect the Empire style fashion popularized through the paintings of Jacques-Louis David and adopted by the women in Napoleon's court. Scattered around the clock are references to the marine origins of Aphrodite: the lobster, seashell and fish-goat mounts. The empire line dress that Aphrodite wears has slipped from her left shoulder as she plays with her dog completely revealing her left breast. The clock is set on fine ormolu toupee feet . Applied mounts adorn the shaped black marble base. All ormolu is entirely original and merely been cleaned. The dial is of convex white enamel on copper with finely pierced gilt bronze hands. The movement is of 8 day duration, striking the hours and halves on a bell and regulated by a silk suspended pendulum. Paris, France circa 1809. 13.2 inches high by 11.2 inches wide by 4.8 inches deep ( 33 cms by 28 cms by 12 cms).