A Louis XVI ormolu and white marble mantel clock (L'Etude et la Philosophie) last quarter 18th century

white enamelled dial contained within a drum-shaped case surmounted by a displayed eagle, flanked by addorsed male and female figures reading and writing, separated by an ormolu plaque cast with putti, raised on an elliptical rouge griotte marble base centered by an ormolu plaque cast with foliate rinceaux and putti flanking a mask and flanked by circular recesses with masks of Mercury, raised on toupie feet.

Maurice Segoura, Paris

The di Portenova Collection, Christie's, New York, October 20, 2000, lot 60

The design of this clock derives from a drawing by François Rémond,  circa 1785 which incorporates figures supplied to the Sèvres factory to be made in biscuit porcelain by the sculptor Simon-Louis Boizot.