AN EARLY 19TH CENTURY FRENCH EMPIRE PERIOD GILT BRONZE FIGURAL MANTEL CLOCK DEPICTING AN ALLEGORY OF ASTRONOMY with a classically attired youth reading a book and holding a laurel crown, the clock case modelled as a bookcase surmounted by an oil lamp and flanked by a telescope, raised on a plinth base cast with winged angels representing Astronomy and the Arts, the white enamelled dial with Roman numerals, the twin train movement with silk suspension and outside countwheel striking on a bell, with pendulum, 41cm high The movement is ticking and striking but not fully tested or guaranteed.  Clocks devoted to science, astronomy, mathematics and study were popular during this time and some of the great master clockmakers and bronziers of the day such as Jean-André Reiche(1752-1817) and Claude Galle (1759-1815) produced clocks of similar theme and design to the present example, often including scientific instruments and tools such as telescopes.