An early 19th century French ormolu-mounted white marble mantel timepiece The base with an applied pair of ormolu love-struck hearts engraved with the initials VS and AD
The base with an applied pair of ormolu love-struck hearts engraved with the initials VS and ADThe case surmounted by Venus on a chariot drawn by a pair of lively-looking swans driven by a cherub, the wheel of the chariot forming the Arabic time dial, with moon hands, the winding square hidden by a hinged cast anthemions spoke, to the left Adonis as a young shepherd with crook and a dog attracts her attention, all set on a shaped marble plinth with applied mounts depicting cupids at Vulcan's forge making and sharpening their arrows of love, centred by the twin-heart motif, the movement with circular plates united by four turned pillars, with chain fusee to a solid deadbeat escape wheel mounted to the outside of the backplate. 44cms (17ins) high.