Antique French Empire viticulture genre related mantel clock of horse pulling a cart carrying casks of grapes. This is a very rare genre clock, so rare in fact that I have never seen the model in life or in any literature covering the subject. The clock also is of stunning quality and in virtually mint condition retaining its original fire gilt ormolu in mint condition and also the original patination to the horse. The subject is charming and has a lovely lightness of touch and the detail throughout is stunning. Set on a rectangular base above four bun feet. The front of the base has an applied ormolu mount of two thyrus sticks with fir cone finials and wrapped around with vine leaves and bunches of grapes and between the two thyrus sticks is a drinking vessel. The top of the base is in the form of a naturalistic grass landscape and has a fine draft horse pulling a traditional two wheel cart or tumbrel. The horse is traditionally harnessed and this is done in some detail. The cart is beautifully made and again with great attention to detail. The cart wheels are made in several parts and even the rivets can be seen in this model. The cart has the traditional wicker sides and carries two beautifully made barrels which are filled to overflowing with grapes and a third larger barrel is fied on top of the two lower ones. This largr barrel iacts as the clock housing with the movement inside the barrel and the dial as the barrel front. The dial is of white covex enamel and has fine hand cut and engraved gilt bronze hands. The exquisite ormolu bezwel is decorated with two concentric circles of design, that to the outside is of stiff leaved laurel and bud and the inner design is of forget-me-not flowers. The movement is of 8 day duration and is regulated by a steel suspended pendulum. The clock strikes the hours and halves on a bell by means of a countwheel. France circa 1815. 12 inches high by 15 inches wide by 6 inches deep ( 30 cm by 37.5 cm by 15 cm).