A Marcolini period Meissen porcelain cased figural mantel clock The movement unsigned, late 18th century The Swiss made four pillar movement with rectangular plates incorporating going train with fusee and watch-type verge escapement set between the plates regulated by sprung three-arm monometallic balance pivoted behind a scroll pierced and chased oval balance bridge mounted on the backplate over regulation disc, the strike train with standing barrel and trip hour repeat sounding on a bell mounted behind the movement, the 2.75 inch circular convex white enamel Roman numeral dial with Arabic five minutes to outer track and scroll pierced and engraved gilt brass hands set behind hinged convex bevel glazed brass bezel, the polychrome painted porcelain case modelled with a seated putto reading a journal with quill in his left hand beside a blue diaper fabric and laurel draped simulated marble drum housing the clock movement with gilt detailed guilloche surround to the dial surmounted by a standing cockerel, the whole on simulated red porphyry base with further guilloche decoration to apron centred with a drop panel front with leafy spray, the angles with floret applied projecting panels over mottled green bun feet, underglaze blue crossed swords and asterisk mark to underside, 17cm (10.5ins) high. The Marcolini period of Meissen porcelain is characterised by the asterisk and crossed swords mark and is named after Count Camillo Marcolini who became director of the company in 1774, a position he held until 1814.