Lot 71
71
A GEORGE III BRASS-MOUNTED MAHOGANY STRIKING BRACKET CLOCK
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more
A GEORGE III BRASS-MOUNTED MAHOGANY STRIKING BRACKET CLOCK

BY EDWARD HOULGRAVE, SIGNED E. EVARGLUOH, LONDON

Details
A GEORGE III BRASS-MOUNTED MAHOGANY STRIKING BRACKET CLOCK
By Edward Houlgrave, signed E. Evargluoh, London
The bell top case with foliate-carved cresting and with bead-and-reel moulded cornice, surmounted by four neo-classical urns with stiff-leaf and pearled carving and foliate finials, the canted front angles carved with trailing oak leaves and acorns above a blind fret with pounced ground, with brass handles to the sides above arched silk-backed fishscale sound frets, the stepped base with carved base and raised on brass spreading ogee feet, the brass-lined front door with silk-backed gilt-brass scrolling acanthus quarter fret, the dial with brass open scroll spandrels to a silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring, the centre engraved with leafy sprigs and signed 'E. Evargluoh LONDON' above a circular date aperture, pierced and blued steel hands, with silvered strike silent ring to the arch above, the four pillar movement with twin wire fusees and verge escapement, strike on bell, the back plate engraved with flowers and swags
24½ in. (52.5 cm.) high; 12¼ in. (31 cm.) wide; 7¾ in. (19.5 cm.) deep
Provenance
Bought from Norman Adams, 5 January 1983.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Edward Houlgrave was a Liverpool maker who became bankrupt on 7 June 1764. There is no record of him in Liverpool subsequently and it may be surmised that he then moved to London to continue his trade. Although unusual, other examples of reverse signatures are known - for example, John Wontner signed clocks Rentnow. Why clockmakers engaged in this eccentric practice is unclear and the reason probably varies from case to case. In some instances, it will have been because the maker was selling work other than his own. In this case, it is likely that as a bankrupt Houlgrave could not trade under his proper name.

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