An extremely rare antique French Charles X period ormolu musical mantel clock of Gaius Marius amidst the ruins of Carthage by the noted maker Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin. The superb and entirely original ormolu, showing Gaius Marius sitting in the ruins of Carthage following his exile, holding a scroll above a relief mounted panel with helmet, lance and sword on a rectangular base with lion paw feet. The 8 day duration, silk suspencion movement with outside countwheel, strikes the hours and halfs on a bell. Twice a day, at 12 o clock, after the bells have rung, it trips the musical movement in the case of the clock, which plays one of two airs, which can be alternated with a small lever at the back of the clock. Set on a marquetry inlaid rosewood base supporting a glass dome. The silvered dial is signed Robert Houdin, whilst the movement is stamped Medaille D'or 1827 Gold medal Pons stamp to the backplate. Pons were awarded a further Gold medal in 1834 so this clock can be firmly dated to between 1827 and 1834. Pierre-Honoré-César Pons (1773-1851) Honoré Pons is listed in Baillie and Tardy and is credited as reviving the clockmaking industry in Saint-Nicolas-d'Aliermont near Dieppe. He was sent there in 1806 by the Minister of the Interior and over the next decades built up clockmaking there until his death in 1857, and supplied his movements to many clock makers. A superb and extremely rare clock by this most eminent of makers. Robert Houdin was a famous clockmaker and magician, his mystery clocks a delight of the age, and he is also considered the father of modern magic. Harry Houdini named himself after him, such was the regard he held him in. 23 inches high by 17 inches wide by 8 inches deep ( 57.5 cm by 52.5 cm by 20 cm )with dome. 18.25 inches high by 13.75 inches wide by 5 inches deep ( 45.6 cm by 34.4 cm by 12.5 cm).