Antique and exceptionally rare French Empire mantel clock of two cupids signed Coeur fils Rue St Honore No 140 a Paris. This small mantel clock of exceptional quality dating from 1811. Set on four beautifully cast and finished ormolu toupee feet and with an ormolu base with canted corners mounted with rosettes and an applied ormolu mount of cupid's bow. To the top of the patinated rocky mound are two figures of winged putti. One on her knees being bound with ribbons by the standing figure. Surely this is a reperesentation of being bound by love. What is truly exceptional about this clock however are the number of individually designed , cast and gilded and finished mounts that are applied to the rocky mound. 21 individual mounts have been made and fitted. I have never seen the like in all the years I have been in the business. The dial is surrounded by a fine ormolu bezel and the dial itself is of convex white enamel with fine ormolu hands. Beautifully signed above 6 o'clock "Coeur fils Rue St Honore No 140 a Paris". The movement is of 8 day duration, striking the hours and halves upon a bell and regulated by a silk suspended pendulum. The clock is dated within the movement 1811 and Coeur fils are known to have been working at the Rue Saint Honore between at least 1812-1817 ( Tardy), clearly they were there a little earlier. France 1811. For someone who wants a superb and possibly unique clock in completely original condition, this is it. 14 inches by 9 inches by 4.5 inches ( 35 cm by 22.5 cm by 11.25 cm).