A RARE LATE 19TH CENTURY ENGLISH MARBLE AND GILT BRONZE MOUNTED CALENDAR CLOCK SIGNED THOMAS BOXELL, the brocatelle and black marble case of arched form and raised on a rectangular base, surmounted by a gilt bronze ribbon tied crest of oak leaves and raised on gilt bronze foliate scroll feet, the hinged door of thick bevelled glass with a gilt bronze surround opening to the gilt brass mask finely engraved in the manner of a Thomas Cole strut clock, enclosing porcelain panels depicting Putti centred by the gilt dial with Roman numerals signed 'THS BOXELL 43 KINGS ROAD BRIGHTON' with engine turned gilt centre, over the subsidiary calendar dial with month, equation of time, day, date and moonphase indication, the clock movement initialled JBD (Jean Baptiste Delettrez) and signed 'T. BOXELL 42 KING'S ROAD BRIGHTON' 26161, striking on a bell, with pendulum, with linkage to the geared calendar movement below, 45cm high The movement is ticking and striking but not fully tested or guaranteed. This fine and fascinating clock signed by Thomas Boxell combines English design features of clockmaking with a French movement. Thomas Boxell of Brighton established his business as a watch and clockmaker during the 1850's in Brighton and was also one of the main retailers of Thomas Cole's clocks. The oval shape of the gilt brass mask enclosing the dials of the present clock, with finely engraved acanthus leaves on a hatched background with chamfered edges is very similar to those used by Thomas Cole in his gilt brass strut clocks. The dials here are obviously English, but the clock movement is stamped JBD for the French horologist Jean Baptiste Delettrez. Could it be that Thomas Boxell was inspried by Cole's sought after clocks and produced this complicated mantel clock incorporating elements of his designs, ordering the movements from France and assembling it to his own unique specifications?