This clock is after the celebrated design by the fondeur François Vion, now in the Bibliothèque Doucet, Paris (VI E 15, Rés.fol.20/1). Referred to as Pleureusé in contemporary auction catalogues, Vion charged 450 livres for the finished model. The design and a related clock are illustrated in H. Ottomeyer, P. Pröschel et al., Vergoldete Bronzen, Munich, 1986, vol. I, p.247, figs. 4.6.9 and 4.6.10.
A clock of this model, originally in the collection of the Earls of Shaftesbury, St. Giles's House, Dorset, was sold anonymously at Christie's London, 9 December 1993, lot 166, another version was sold anonymously at Christie's New York, 24 May 2001, lot 8 (US$14,100).