A Victorian three train quarter chiming skeleton clock
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A Victorian three train quarter chiming skeleton clock

UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO SMITH OF CLERKENWELL OR EVANS OF HANDSWORTH. CIRCA 1860

Details
A Victorian three train quarter chiming skeleton clock
Unsigned, attributed to Smith of Clerkenwell or Evans of Handsworth. Circa 1860
The tracery-pierced brass movement frame with triple chain fusses, in-line spring barrels with pierced-out covers, silvered brass chapter ring engraved with flowers and with Gothic chapters, blued steel hands, quarter chiming on a nest of eight bells, the hour striking on a large gong to the rear, anchor escapement, the burgundy velvet-lined base on a burr walnut oval plinth; under glass dome
28¾ in. (73 cm.) high over dome
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

It is not unusual for Victorian skeleton clocks, even of the quality of the present example, to be unsigned. By this time many makers had stopped signing their clocks and Derek Roberts (British Skeleton Clocks, Antique Collectors' Club, 1987, p.127) suggests that Evans of Handsworth probably put his name to only 5 of his output and that Smith signed even less. By the second half of the 19th century retailers were in the ascendancy and often insisted on clocks carrying their names. However, between them these two makers probably produced more skeleton clocks than all the other makers put together.
Distinguishing clocks made by these different makers is not easy. Indeed, Roberts points out that at least three clocks signed by Smith were made by Evans (op. cit, p.128), suggesting that they sold each other's products.
Evans' clocks tend to be more substantial than those Smith's, with thicker plates and chapter rings (as with the present clock). However, the majority of Evans' clocks have wheels with six crossings, as against Smith's four or five; this clock has wheels with four crossings. Evans used an hour wheel with of 2in. diameter, and Smith's were 1½in.; the present clock's hour wheel is approximately 1 5/8in. diameter. Evans' clocks generally have hatchet-shaped bell hammers as on this clock, whilst Smith's used halberd hammer heads.

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