A Directoire Ormolu and Bronze Sculptural Mantel Clock by Galle, the Movement by Nicholas Thomas, Circa 1809

Having a 11cm enamel dial with Roman numerals signed Galle Rue Vivienne A Paris, for the bronzier, and Thomas Hr, for the clock maker. With blued Breguet hands, flat bottomed countwheel bell striking anchor movement with silk suspended pendulum, finely cast and chiselled ormolu and bronze case surmounted by a seated classical lady sending a letter with a dove, behind her a gueridon with writing necessairies, stepped oval base with applied mounts of Cupids and flambeaux with arrows all symbolizing love, above a high relief of a shepherd receiving a letter and having scrolls at both ends. Acanthus moulded plinth raised on engraved toupee feet.

Nicholas Thomas was working in Paris from 1778 into the beginning of the 19th Century

Claude Galle (d 1815) was amongst the greatest bronziers and fondeur-ciseleurs of the late Louis XVI and Empire periods. First patronised by the Garde meuble de la Couronne under Jean d”Heure from 1786-1788, he is known to have collaborated with Pierre Philipe Thomire, amongst others, and was responsible for many of the bronzes supplied during the Empire period to Fontainebleau.

The drawing for this clock is illustrated in Vergoldete Bronzen by Hans Ottomeyer and Peter Proschel Volume 1 Page 377 ref 5.15.12