Striking mantel clock. The clock cylinder is surmounted by a gilt bronze figure of the goddess Minerva, patroness of learning and the arts and a symbol of Wisdom on a square black marble base. Her shield is decorated with the head of Medusa presented to her by Perseus after she helped him slay the monster; the whole supported by two black marble pedestals decorated with chains; all mounted on a rectangular white marble base with steps to the centre and a raised platform below each; surrounding each pyramid is a chain hung from bollard.

Dial of white enamel with black Arabic numberals for hours and quarter intervals and chased and fretted gilt hands. The eight day mechanism has a going barrel movement with a silk suspension and tic tac escapement with a locking plate striking on a bell.

Pierre Gavelle, known as Gavelle L'Aîné (1753-1802) was the son of a renowned Parisian watch case maker Jean-Jacques Gavelle (b. circa 1725 d. 1798) and brother of another watch case and clock maker Maurice-Jacques, known as Gavelle Le Jeune (d. after 1820). Gavelle L'Aîné was born in Paris, where he was received as a maître in 1771 and later in 1785, like his father was made a député of his guild. Until 1787 he worked with his father at rue de la Huchette and then established a separate business at rue Saint-Denis. The year before he died he was recorded at rue des Juifs.