A GEORGE III MANTEL CLOCK

Sir Nicholas Goodison noted: Benjamin Vulliamy's Clock Books, which survive in the British Horological Institute, give full details of the manufacture of clocks from Nos 296-469 and 746-1067. Vulliamy called this type of clock a 'truss' clock, presumably a reference to the architectural feature of the volutes supporting the drum. Several clocks of this type are known, some of rouge marble, some of black marble, most with eagles, some with different mounts on the square base, for example Hercules and the Nemean Lion. The second Clock Book begins with No. 746 in 1820. Nos. 753 and 754 are both 'truss' clocks with Hercules, the first in red marble the second black. Several of Vulliamy's craftsmen/subcontractors who appear in the Clock Books as case-makers, casters, chasers, gilders, engravers, etc. no doubt contributed to the making of this clock. The signature on the front plate 'T. Gamage' was probably the clockmaker Thomas Gammage, who is recorded as a member of the Clockmakers Company 1814-40. In the Clock Book he is spelt Gammage and appears many times, e.g. Nos. 750, 758, 760, 761, 762, 763, the last four all black marble 'truss' clocks.