A FINE THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY FRENCH GILT BRONZE AND ALGERIAN ONYX EGYPTIAN REVIVAL CLOCK GARNITURE POSSIBLY BY LA COMPAGNIE DES MARBRES ET ONYX D'ALGERIE, THE BRONZE BY LEON PILET (FRENCH, 1836-1916) the onyx plinth case decorated with a gilt bronze relief frieze depicting classical figures and chariots, over a stylised lotus border and raised on paw feet, surmounted by a bronze figure of an ancient Egyptian maiden, reclining on a chaise longue with a sphinx beside her, signed 'L. PILET', the white enamelled dial with Roman numerals and recessed centre revealing the visible Brocot escapement, the twin train movement stamped 'PLTRE 397', the garniture urns with conforming relief friezes and with removable lids, with scrolling foliate, ring handles on plinth bases, the clock 55cm high, the urns 34cm high (3) Algerian Onyx was discovered in 1849 and by the third quarter of the 19th century was particularly fashionable for use in clocks and other decorative objects. In 1878 the Societe de Marbres Onix D'Algerie, under the directorship of Eugene Cornu, had a an impressive stand at the Exposition Universelle where they exhibited a large selection of clocks and other wares. For other bronze Egyptian figures by Leon Pilet see Christie's, New York, 19 April 2006, lot 47.