A gilt bronze and white marble mantel clock in a rectangular shaped plinth case surmounted by a group comprising a Roman soldier with a young woman bidding him a sad farewell (Aeneas and Dido). Sides with gilt oval handles on paw and bracket feet. The glazed face is flanked by caryatids and the dial has the 12 hours in Roman numerals and gilt spade hands. The eight day rack striking clock has a going barrel movement and anchor recoil escapement.

The firm of Robert Bryson and Sons was formed in 1852 after the death of Robert Bryson, an old established Edinbrugh clockmaker, by his sons, Alexander and Robert.