Details
A George II ormolu mounted ebonised grande sonnerie bracket clock
Joseph Martineau Senior, London; third quarter 18th century
The case with foliate ormolu mounts to the bell top surmounted by an ormolu figure of Chronos (lacking scythe) flanked by floral rococo urns, pierced and chased sound frets to the sides and in quarter panels to the front and rear, the out-set angles with ormolu female caryatids supporting pedestals surmounted at each angle by an ormolu figure representing the four seasons, the base on foliate cast ormolu scrolling bipodia, the dial with central white enamel Roman and Arabic chaper disc signed Martineau London with pierced blued steel hour hand and later minute hand, the wavy-cast ormolu bezel with ormolu shell-cast spandrels, the border and arch painted with trailing multi coloured flowers in high relief enamels, the subsidiary enamel dials with central calendar flanked by regulation and strike/silent (Sonne/Non.Sonne), the triple chain fusee movement with six pillars, grande sonnerie quarter strike on six bells via six hammers with hour strike on a further bell, verge escapement with pendulum regulation via a bridge across the top of the plates securing the spring-suspended pendulum, the profuse foliate engraved backplate signed Jos. Martineau Senior London within a foliate cartouche
19 ins. (48 cm.) high