An early 19th century French gilt bronze and white figural marble mantel clock the dial signed Piolaine a ParisAn early 19th century French gilt bronze and white figural marble mantel clockthe dial signed Piolaine a Paristhe 4.25" enamel Arabic dial with engraved gilt lattice hands, the cast bezel set within a rectangualr case surmounted by an armillary sphere and flanked by a maiden reading from an open book, a younger boy looking on, the breakfront plinth with applied frieze on tapering feet, the twin train drum shaped movement with flattened lower edge and later Brocot suspension, the outside countwheel striking on a bell, 36cms highPiolaine was a major Paris clockmaker during the last quarter of the 18th and first quarter of the 19th centuries. He became a maître in August 1787, setting up his studio on Rue Ecrivains before moving to Rue Des Gravilliers in 1810. Around 1815 there is no further news of him, but his widow seemed to continue the workshop between 1817 and 1820.