Zeus, capitvated by the beauty of Europa, came to her on the seashore in the form of a bull. Finding the beast so tame, Europa and her attendants bedecked the bull with garlands and, greatly daring, she ventured to mount its back. The god rushed into the sea and swam with her to Crete. He then revealed his true identity and subsequently Europa became the first queen of Crete. Zeus gave her gifts including a necklace and a javelin that would never missed its target. Zeus later re-created the shape of the bull in the stars - now known as the constellation Taurus.

The clock comprises a patinated bronze bull supporting a cartel shaped clock resting on a rocaille base chased with rocks and ferns. The clock case is crowned by the seated figure of Europa holding a floral garland. A standing figure holds the bull's head and a figure of cupid, kneeling on a cloud with quiver and bow. Whilst unsigned the case is identical to one which bears the signature of Jean-Joseph de Saint-Germain a noted fondeur-ciseleur. A clock of the same design is recorded in 1784 in the Grand Cabinet of the apartment of Madame Victoire, Louis XV's fifth daughter, on the ground floor at Versailles

Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy replaced the original French mechanism with an eight day rack striking clock with a fusee movement and half dead beat escapement. The enamel dial has the 12 hours represented in Roman figures and arabic numerals for the minutes and a pair of pierced brass hands.

Pictoral Inventory RCIN 934759.  Vulliamy number 1040: described in the Clock Book as a 'Clock in a French case on the Back of a Bull with an organ in the pedestal. For The King'.