A Pendulum Clock With Marcus Tullius Cicero, By Pierre-philippe Thomire

Ormolu, blackened numerals, blued steel hands,brass. 14-day running with thread suspension of the pendulum, half-hourly striking on a bell. Uniqie, imposing design, cast in several parts and screw-mounted. Very well preserved fire gilding. Engraved "THOMIRE A PARIS" below the back left on the base
Around 1800-1815

Thomire (1751-1843) learned his craft in the workshop of the famous Parisian bronze maker Pierre Gourhière, an outstanding ciseleur-doreur. In the 1780s he received his first commissions for the court. He achieved his breakthrough under Napoléon, who provided him with numerous commissions. among many others, he created the famous cradle for the King of Rome. (Treasury, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna)
Thomire specialised in the production of fully sculptured bronzes and figures with the finest chasing and high-quality patination.

Roman autor, philospher and statesman,Cicéro (106-43 BC) was held in high esteem in Enlightenment France during Thomire's lifetime.
It is quite concevable that this pendulum clock with his portrait was placed in an official building or a court.