This impressive mantel clock with an eight day single fusee movement evokes the concept of time well spent in learning. It is crowned by Jupiter''s eagle who bears sacred oak garlands above the dial, whose Ionic capital cradle is framed by addorsed studying nymphs. They are seated on a bronze plinth which is centred by an Arcadian Pan mask amongst golden flowered ormolu garlands, the whole resting on turned baluster feet. The dial is cast in ormolu and unusually has Arabic numerals, surround by a anthemion frieze bezel. With the eagle a symbol of Jupiter and hence the divinity of learning, and the mask of Pan a reference to the natural world. This clock is, therefore, a celebration Natural Philosophy, the study of science and the natural world, and a display of classical learning and understanding.The two seated figures derive from the model of L''Etude, which together with La Philosophie, was created for the S�vres factory by Louis-Simon Boizot in 1780. Under the instructions...