A very unusual French malachite cabochon mounted engraved gilt brass carriage clock Roblin and Fils Freres, Paris, circa 1860 The eight-day two train bell striking movement with silvered platform cylinder escapement and stamped with oval trademark ROBLIN, FILS & FRERES, A PARIS over serial number 20255, The small oblong gilt Roman numeral dial with rosette engraved centre, blued steel hands and hatched leafy scroll decorated infill to spandrel areas, the case in the form of a casket with hinged carrying handle over lobed cabochon capped upstand to the cavetto moulded superstructure applied with further oval cabochons to each side within horizontal line engraved panel infill and leaf motif decorated angles, the front with strapwork decorated glazed oblong bezel within border further engraved with hatched foliate motifs and line surround with intricate lattice crossings to each corner, the sides each applied with twin cabochons within conforming stylised leaf engraved infill and line surround, the rear engraved to match and incorporating shuttered winding/setting holes and regulation aperture, on shaped platform skirt base applied with further malachite cabochons to the upper surface of each projecting rounded corner over vertical line hatched panel decoration, the underside fitted with a scroll-pierced sound fret, 13.5cm (5.25ins) high excluding handle. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands. Very little appears to be known regarding the Paris clockmaking firm of Roblin and Fils Freres however from the numerous mantel and other clocks that survive they appear to have been a good quality manufacturer and retailer of clocks active throughout the second half of the 19th century. The case of the current lot is extremely unusual, and from its construction (each element being formed by hand and brazed together rather than cast) would appear to be a 'one-off' -made perhaps to special order. The case being made in the shape of a casket is broadly reminiscent of the work of Thomas Cole whose designs were also often adorned with malachite and sometimes followed the form of a piece of furniture.