A French Empire ormolu mantel clock with seated figure of Paris, the Trojan Prince, best remembered for his Judgement in the beauty contest between Venus, Juno and Minerva. Paris holds the golden apple which he gave Venus and is dressed as a shepherd with rustic stick, pipes and straw hat. The plinth is decorated with a continuous frieze of winged ladies (Horae) interspersed with crowned billing doves.

This ormolu mantel clock supports the seated figure of the shepherd boy, Paris, holding a golden apple in his right hand, his left resting on the dial, with his crook, staff, horn and straw hat propped up behind him. The dial face, on the square seat which contains the clock movement, is encircled with a daisy chain, with pelta shields filled with honeysuckle sprouting bell flowers in the four corners.
The diameter of the dial is 8.9 cm. The white enamel chapter ring is 1.1 cm wide with Roman numerals and has an engine-turned brass centre. The winding holes are inside III and VIII; a small hole for regulation is above XII.

The front of the rectangular plinth is decorated with an applied frieze of three female figures with butterfly wings, the Horae, who personify the Seasons, and hold garlands of flowers. They are interspersed with pairs of billing doves perched on ledges, crowned with wreaths suspended from garlands. The plinth is supported by disc feet.

The movement has striking and going trains which are spring-operated with a pendulum. The going train on the right has a tic-tac escapement; the escape-wheel of 32 T, the pallets embracing 4 teeth. The pendulum is 23.5 cm long, with a steel rod and lenticular brass bob 2.9 cm diameter. The movement is regulated with a wind up cord. The locking-plate striking train has a count wheel outside the backplate. The circular movement plates are 8.6 cm diameter. The back of the movement is signed DABERT.

The mantel clock shows Paris, the shepherd boy seated holding the golden apple which he has been given by Mercury. This is before Paris has made the judgement between Venus, Juno and Minerva as to which is the most beautiful. The judgement occurs after Mercury's wedding to Oenone because Eris, the goddess of Strife, wanted revenge because she had not been invited to the wedding feast.
The plinth bears a relief of the Horae, representing the Seasons, holding garlands divided by pairs of billing doves, representing the wedding festivities.

The dial is surrounded by a daisy chain.

Given by Mrs E.M.Craig Waller

Given by Mrs E.M.Craig Waller in 1950

A French Empire Mantel clock featuring the pastoral scene of Paris, the shepherd boy with the golden apple, on his wedding day. This may have been intended as a marriage gift.

For another clock by Dabert see http://www.bhandl.co.uk/sales/assets/FS/2013/01/29/FS290113-works-of-art.pdf

A French Empire ormolu mantel clock featuring Paris, the shepherd boy with the golden apple prior to the judgement as to whom amongst Venus, Minerva and Juno was most beautiful. The back of the movement is signed DABERT, a clockmaker recorded as working in Paris between 1811 and 1823.

M.18-1950