French Empire Antique ormolu & marble mantel clock of "The Astronomy Lesson" by Jean-Andre Reiche. The fire and mercury gilt ormolu is in virtually mint condition and is entirely original. This is the largest and most impressive of the genre of clock designs that Jean-Andre Reiche made for the Emperor Napoleon in 1807. This features a governess and her pupil sitting at a table with an astrolabe between them with the governess pointing at a star chart while the pupil holds a book in her hand. Both sit on fine Empire chairs which are highly decorated with applied ormolu mounts of scrolling forget-me-not flowers and female masks. These finely cast and finished young women sit on a shaped ormolu base decorated with applied ormolu mounts of beribboned cupids carrying scientific instruments. To their left is an applied mount of a table globe and to their right a superb mount of an elaborate astronomical telescope. To each end is an applied mount of anthemion. This all sits upon an antique vert shaped marble base standing upon six ormolu toupee feet. Beautiful white enamel convex dial with original blued steel moon hands. 8 day movement, countwheel striking on a fine cast bell, timekeeping regulated with silk suspended pendulum. See ottomeyer & Proschell " Vergodete Bronzen" pp.375. Reiche often used women as the subject in clocks where learning or technology was involved indicating the feeling of emancipation for women in the new France after the revolution. France. 1807. 16 inches high by 15 inches wide by 5 inches deep ( 40 cms by 37.5 cms by 12.5 cms).