An Edwardian mahogany and foliate marquetry longcase clock

Details

An Edwardian mahogany and foliate marquetry longcase clock
the hood with paterae-inlaid finial blocks (finials lacking) above the swan-neck pediment with flowerhead carved roundels, fluted brass-capped columns and sound frets to the sides, the trunk with fluted pilasters and arched door inlaid with central oval bats' wing patera and floral sprays above and below, with panelled sides, conforming decoration to the plinth on bracket feet and with brass presentation plaque (see footnote), the brass dial with painted moonphase in the arch within silvered half-ring, the silvered chapter ring applied with gilt-brass Roman chapters, incised foliate spandrels and conforming decoration to the centre with silvered seconds ring, silvered CHIMES/SILENT and WHITTINGTON/WESTMINSTER rings above with incised centres, the substantial three train four pillar movement with deadbeat escapement, hour strike on gong and chimes on tubular bells with eight hammers via 11¼in.(28.5cm.) pin barrel -- 97¼in.(247cm.) high
See Back Cover Illustration

Lot Essay

The presentation inscription reads: PRESENTED TO W.G.AUSTIN ESQ: BY JUSTICES MEMBERS OF COUNCIL &C OF THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION OF SEVENTEEN YEARS INVALUABLE SERVICES MAY 1905.

Although the clock is unsigned, relatively few makers produced tube-chiming clocks, such as Elliot, Smiths of Clerkenwell, and Gillet and Johnson in Croydon. It is therefore likely this was made by one of them. See Derek Roberts British Longcase Clocks, Schiffer, 1990, pp.256-259. The moonphase is less usual and no similar example is illustrated in Schiffer.

More from Clocks and Barometers

View All