Antique French Empire clock of stunning quality of borne shape constructed of rouge marble, original fire gilt ormolu and patinated bronze. The dial of the clock is signed "Mesnil a Paris", a clockmaker who generally worked in conjunction with Ravrio, one of the most famous French bronziers of the first decades of the 19th century. I have no doubt at all that the case was produced by Ravrio for his colleague Mesnil, perhaps for one of his own clients. Set upon ormolu bun feet to the rouge marble base rising to an ormolu plinth with applied mounts of griffins with one paw on a ball and a classical urn between to the front a wreath to each side. The borne shaped clock housing in patinated bronze has an ormolu column to the front edge with an applied mount of a ribboned arrow pointing upwards and rising to ormolu laurel leaves following the dome of the case with a forget-me-not flower to the centre. Below the dial is a fine applied ormolu mount of a classical lyre with trailing acanthus leaves belowterminating once more with a forget-me-not flower. To each side of the case is applied a good ormolu mount of Hermes' Caduceus. The white convex enamel dial with Roman hour numerals and Arabic minute numerals at the quarter hour point. The hands of the clock are elaborately cast and finished and are of an unusua form. The dial is signed above 6 o'clock " Mesnil a Paris". The dial is surrounded by a fine ormolu bezel with beading and anthemion as decoration. The movement, of early form with flattened plates id of 8 day duration, regulated by a silk suspended pendulum and striking the hours and halves on a bell by means of a countwheel. French circa 1805.14 inches high by 7.5 inches wide and 5 inches deep ( 35 cms by 18.75 cms by 12.5 cms). A really exceptionally beautifully designed and crafted clock in very fine original condition .