Early 19th century French Empire patinated bronze and ormolu figural mantel clock, circa 1810, in the manner of Alibert or Lesieur, modelled 'au negre portefaix' as a barefoot and bare-chested slave with brimmed hat, carrying a bale of cotton on a frame upon his back, a gourd water bottle tied around his waist, a detached (but present) sugar cane walking stick to reattach to his left hand, his right hand now empty, the 3.25-inch convex white-enamelled dial with Roman hours and Arabic minutes, the anonymous two-train movement, numbered 1685, with silk suspension, outside countwheel-striking on a bell, the canted rectangular plinth base with three applied mounts; a monkey between palm fronds, and two baskets with perching birds, on toupie feet, 33cm high

The form of the current lot is based on a design registered by Jean-Andre Reiche in January 1808.
Literature: see Niehuser, Elke, 'French Bronze Clocks' p.149)