“Grinning Lion” Bronze Pendulum Clock

An extremely rare and important Louis XVI bronze pendulum clock, "Grinning Lion", with hour and half hour strike. The lion was a particularly favorite subject of Vion. The case exhibits neoclassical motifs, such as symmetry, swags, and garlands. The “Greek key” motif on the base is indicative of the return to classical motifs.
Except for the frieze on the base the model matches a draft from the workshop of Francois Vion and Pierre-Antoine Foullets in Paris, dating from around 1770.