With its distinctive arched black marble case, this clock relates to a small group of similar examples in the Chateau de Fontainebleau. Four of these clocks entered the Imperial Collection between 1806 and 1808. One was supplied by Lepaute in 1806, which, in 1808, was placed in the chambre à coucher of the Emperor. A further example was delivered by Lepaute in 1808, which was described as 'Pour le salon de Sa Majesé l'Empereur au Palais de Fontainebleau une pendule forme de borne antique, corps en beau marbre noir décoré de bronze analogues à la composition...'. (J-P Samoyault, Pendules et bronzes d'ameublement entrés sous le Premier Empire, Paris, 1989, pp. 75-77)

See illustration