For the Spanish market, the dial with Arabic chapters and days of the month and days of the week, signed de Belle Paris, surmounted by a seated maiden playing a harp, flanked by Cupid holding a scroll inscribed Bouton de Rose on a stool, and a gueridon on griffin supports, on a breakfronted rectangular base with masks and griffins, with leaf-tip-cast circular tapering feet, the whole raised on a base with bun feet
22 in. (56cm.) high, 23 in. (58.5cm.) wide

Property of C. Norvin Rinek; Christie’s, New York, 29 September 1999, lot 290.

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Jean-François Debelle, recorded in rue Saint-Honoré, Paris, 1787-1800.

For an identical clock of this model, entitled La Leçon de Musique, see H. L. Tardy, French Clocks the World Over: From Louis XVI Style to Louis XVIII-Charles X Period, II, Paris, 1981, p. 312. The example illustrated by Tardy is fitted with a movement by the Parisian clockmaker Faisant and is dated 1812. An almost identical clock in the Palazzo Reale is illustrated in E. Colle and F. Mazzocca, Il Palazzo Reale, Milan, 2001, p. 291, while another sold Christie's, New York, 25 May 1993, lot 17. For a version with patinated bronze figures see Christies, London, 17 April 1980, lot 130.