Mantel Clock

The case after a design of François Vion in form of a lion supporting a cylindrical case draped with ribbon tied laurel swags and surmounted by a covered urn hung with a laurel swag, all on a rectangular marble plinth centred by gilt bronze mounted ribbon-tied oak leaf spray, raised on bun feet, white enamel dial with black Arabic numerals for the minutes and Roman numerals for the hours, within a hinged glazed bezel, roman chapters, arabic minute numerals, pierced gilt hands, three-week going movement, striking the half- and full hours.

François Vion (maître 1764) was a prolific maker of clock cases. A design for this clock case is preserved in the Bibliothèque. Another example of the clock, as well as the drawing, is illustrated in Ottomeyer, H. and P. Proeschel, ed, Vergoldete Bronzen, v. 1, figs. 3.11.4 and 3.11.6. A related clock was recorded in the appartements of the Prince de Condé at the Palais Bourbon in 1779.