CLOCK; ORMOLU STRIKING

Gilt and gilded French Ormolu striking clock with original glass dome Circa 1780.a) Clock b) Dome c) Dome base d) Clock base e) Pendulum f) Key, winding
a) Clock: gilt bronze mantel clock with ornate decoration on clock face, enamel with roman numbers, a central floral design and two holes for key entry to winding mechanisms. Two hands, hour and minute. Clock face is in a barrel shaped housing, with a beaded design around the enamel face. On top, is perched a female figure holding a torch in her right hand and a book in her left. She is looking down at the book and her legs are on the opposite side of the barrel, with one leg folded behind the other. She is bare footed and wearing a long flowing robe. The barrel is sitting on an attached metal base with a wreath flowing from one side to the other. A shield at centre front forms part of the design. All design elements are moulded. At the rear there is no cover for the clock mechanism, which is housed in the barrel section.
b) Glass dome: high, oval shaped dome with open base. Large crack, beginning at the top, runs down one side to the base.
c) Dome base: oval shaped wood, painted black at top and around the sides. Four small wooden feet affixed, also painted black. Around the top edge, a channel has been carved out for the bottom edge of the dome clock to rest. On the underside a rectangular section has been cut out of the wood. There is a hand written inscription, paritally obscured and presumed to be in French - 1h 1/2 / Sur ? nesure / VEN / 32018 - There is some staining of the wood underneath and some scratches in the top surface. The channel is not painted and some numbers are visible in three different areas. - 87/31 87/37 87/1331.
d) Clock base: wooden rectangular base with one side shaped in a 'V' shape with wavy edges. Gold painted and top covered with crimson coloured velvet, very worn where the clock rests on it. The material is bordered by a gold coloured cord which is fraying at front edge. Five wooden feet are affixed to the base.