Rare French mystery clock by Guilmet, black slate with gilt and patinated ornament, with candelabra garniture, the signed time and strike, movement with crank and stirrup escapement, a bronzed spelter figure of a woman on top of the case, holding the

Rare French mystery clock by Guilmet, black slate with gilt and patinated ornament, with candelabra garniture, the signed time and strike, movement with crank and stirrup escapement, a bronzed spelter figure of a woman on top of the case, holding the pendulum, the pendulum impulsed through the nearly imperceptible movement of the gilt base on which the figure stands, candelabra in patinated spelter with Classically inspired ornament, on black slate bases matching the clock, later glass dial with black painted Roman numerals allowing the action of the movement to be observed, the original black slate dial with gilt Roman numerals is included with the clock, gilt bezel with thick beveled glass, gilt steel hands, pendulum with glass center, c1875 Clock case is very good, gilding dirty but intact, case with good polish, a few spots and loss of polish on molding at left front, a few minor flakes, female figure with good original surface, dirty and with minor losses, glass dial very good, original dial excellent, hands very good, pendulum with wear to finish, glass center with flakes and scratches, gilt bezel and beveled glass very good, movement is running and striking, will require escapement adjustment, bell replaced, suspension spring broken, candelabra bases with good polish, one with upper left corner broken and repaired, candle holders with repaired damage, gilding on feet and ornaments good, one handle missing, see D. Roberts "Mystery, Novelty and Fantasy Clocks", chapter 21 for more information on this unusual clock Ht 29.5"