Antique French porcelain and ormolu mantel clock with silver highlights mantel clock. A superb Napoleon III clock in the Louis XVIth style. The original fire/mercury gilt ormolu in very good condition but also with wonderfull silver decoration to leaves and buds. The beautifully painted and gilt porcelain with jewelling is in the best blue celeste colour. Set on a breakfront base with bracket and highly decorated bun feet the base decorated with acanthus leaves and with silver highlights. Two panels to the side in blue celeste with cupids carrying flower sprays among clouds. To each side of the clock are large acanthus leaves.The clock rises to an arch on which is mounted a blue celeste porcelain urn with portrait busts of two young women. The urn is supported on an ormolu stem and with Acanthus handles to each side. The top of the urn is capped with an ormolu lid decorated with leaves and surmounted by a berry finial , all with silver highlights. The dial is surronded by very fine mounts of acanthus with silver highlights. The dial of jewelled blue celeste porcelain painted with a cupid to the centre and with blued steel hands. The eight day movement with original numbered pendulum and striking the hours and halves on a bell. The movement, case and bezel all numbered 6482 and the movement and bezel marked AB with a star. France circa 1860-80. 14.5 inches high by 16.5 inches wide by 5.25 inches deep ( 36.25 cm by 41.25 cm by 13.125 cm) . With base 16 inches high by 18.5 inches wide by 6.25 iinches deep ( 40 cm by 46.25 cm by 15.625 cm).