A large and attractive French Directoire ormolu and bronze sculptural mantel clock, Mesnil, late 18th century

15-cm enamel dial with Roman numerals signed Mesnil à Paris, blue and gilt centre, gilt five minute marking and good gilt Breguet hands, movement with anchor escapement, countwheel striking on a bell and silk suspended pendulum, ormolu drum case surmounted by an eagle, flanked by two well cast and chiselled patinated bronze figures of a writing young man and a reading lady on an acanthus moulded plinth, a classical relief in the centre depicting two putti nourishing an eagle, white marble oval break front base, the protruding corners incorporating medaillions with Medusa masks, flanking a pierced high relief foliate mount with two putti holding Zeus mask, the whole raised on canelled bun feet 

The pendant figures of the reading lady and writing young man were designed by Simon-Louis Bizot in 1782. Lit.; Ottomeyer & Pröschel, Vergoldete Bronzen, pp. 294.