A fabulous and very rare antique English, Egyptian revival mantel clock with fusee movement by John Moore and Sons of London. This clock has a number of very unusual features. Constructed entirely of Derbyshire black marble it's shape is most unusual, incorporating features from both Egyptian temples and also the pyramids. Columns to the side are loosely in the form of palm trees while the case is surmounted by a stepped pyramid. To the front and sides are engraved into the marble, scenes depicting Egyptian gods. The dial is surrounded by an ormolu symbol of Ouroboros (a symbol dating at least from the reign of Tutankhamun 14th century BC) believed to represent constant recreation and in terms of time a representation of the begginning and end of time) a snake eating its own tail. The dial itself is of convex enamel and again very unusually the hour chapters are painted representations of the 12 signs of the Zodiac in a pale red. The blued steel hands are of a design that I have not seen with both the hour and minute hand having seven pointed stars as their point. The movement again is very unusual in that it has been engineered to wind from the side of the case through a series of gears at 90 degrees to one another. Furthermore the timekeeping is regulated by a very fine English horizontal lever escapement. Both the side wind and the lever escapement mans that the heavy case does not have to be moved to wind or adjust it once it is in position. The movement itself is an eight day circular plated movement with chain driven fusee and engraved on the backplate is "John Moore & Sons, Clerkenwell, London. 11 263. This company was working frm 1844 to 1880. I think rather than being a production number this could indicate the date of production 11th February 1863. 16 inches high by 9 inches wide by 7.5 inches deep ( 40 cm by 22.5 cm by 18.75 cm).