'The Death of Nelson’ Commemorative Striking Mantelpiece Clock c.1840

This oval white marble clock is applied with high quality bronze and ormolu mounts. The base encloses a French 8-day, twin barrel movement with a silk suspension and a count wheel strike on the bell. The ormolu dial has Roman numerals in blue and white enamels and is set within a rope border surrounded by naval panoplies and a coronet. The sides are embellished with putti with double fish-tails holding a long shell horn in each hand. On top of the clock is a bronze group of the dying Nelson collapsing into the arms of two sailors. With pendulum and key. Stamped on the back plate René à Paris. English, with a French movement, circa 1840. The bronze group of the falling Nelson being supported by two sailors is reminiscent of the positioning adopted by Samuel Drummond in his original version of The Death of Nelson illustrated on page 54.