A 300-YEAR-OLD Rococo-era clock described as a 'masterpiece' is going under the hammer in Dorchester with a starting bid of more than £100,000.

A Louis XV gilt-bronze-mounted stained horn and patinated bronze musical mantel clock is being auctioned off by Duke's as part of the Spring Fine Art collection on Thursday, April 28.

To view more images of the clock, click on the interactive gallery above

The clock, which is engraved with ‘Beliard hger du Roy’, is made up of circular white enamelled dial with Arabic and Roman chapters and pierced hands in a cylinder surmounted by an Asian figure - with pig-tail holding a gourd.

The twin barrel movement has a silk suspension pendulum and count-wheel striking on a bell, on a bellowing rhinoceros, standing on a naturalistic rocky base with eight scrolled feet.

The trip lever to the plinth houses the associated musical movement in a sarcophagus-shaped box, along with a fusee and spring pin barrel playing music on 11 bells and 12 hammers.

The pierced folate trelliswork side panels are lined with scarlet silk, on scrolled feet, while the gilt-bronze bears the stamp ‘St Germain’, with the dial inscribed ‘Beliard'.

According to Duke's, the clock is described as a 'masterpiece' which defined the Rococo style - an era following the death King Louis XIV in 1715. The clock represents a rejection of Baroque art’s formal grandeur, drawing its name from the French word rocaille - meaning rock or pebble.

Spokesman from Duke's, Rufus Bird said: "Duke’s Spring Fine Art sale is led by a spectacular and important Louis XV musical clock, which celebrates the famous Indian rhinoceros Clara, who toured Europe in the 1740s and 1750s and achieved international celebrity status."

Clara the famed rhinoceros was shown to fabulous acclaim for five months in Paris, from the winter of 1749 to spring of 1750. The visit was carefully planned and the ensued 'rhinomania', which preceded and accompanied her visit was accompanied and reflected through ladies fashions, coiffures, horse harnesses, as well as the creation of spectacular works of art.

Mr Bird added: "The auction on Thursday, April 28 also includes paintings and graphic works by marquee names such as Rembrandt, Altdorfer and Allan Ramsay, consigned from a variety of old English private collections.

"The sale also features furniture largely bought from good London dealers in the 1970s and 1980s, consigned from a London townhouse in Addison Road, W14."

The clock is estimated to sell between £100,000 to £150,000.