An attractive French Restoration ormolu and bronze sculptural mantel clock, circa 1825

8-cm gilt dial with Roman numerals and matted centre, Breguet hands, countwheel bell striking anchor movement marked P.D.4781 with silk suspended pendulum, well cast and chiselled patinated bronze rockwork case hung with ivy, an ormolu group below of Androcles pulling a thorn from the lion's paw, stepped oval base with an applied bronze foliate mount, acanthus relief plinth raised on engraved bun feet

The subject of this clock refers to the classical story of Androcles, who was a slave that ran away from captivity and fled into the wilderness. He came across a lion that was wounded in one paw by a large thorn. Androcles removed the thorn and cured the lion whose gratitude was great. Androcles and the lion became friends. After a while Androcles was captured again and condemned to fight a wild animal at the circus. To everyone's astonishment the lion in the circus did not attack him but laid down at his feet, since it was his old friend. The spectators demanded thereupon his freedom which was granted by the Emperor.