A fine Victorian gilt-brass arabesque frame skeleton table regulator with pivoted detent escapement

ATTRIBUTED TO EVANS OF HANDSWORTH. CIRCA 1870

Details

A fine Victorian gilt-brass arabesque frame skeleton table regulator with pivoted detent escapement
Attributed to Evans of Handsworth. Circa 1870
Mounted on a black and white marble plinth and under glass dome, with silvered and engraved chapter rings, outer minutes with subsidiary hour above seconds, blued steel hands, the eight day single chain fusee movement with Evans' pivoted detent escapement, maintaining power, all wheels with six crossings; zinc and steel fully compensated pendulum with brass bob, lacking winding key
16½ in. (42 cm. high), 17¾ in. (45 cm.) high over dome

Literature

Illustrated, Derek Roberts, British Skeleton Clocks, Antique Collectors' Club, Woodbridge, 1987, pp.229-230, figsa & b.
Illustrated, F.B. Royer-Collard, Skeleton Clocks, NAG Press, London, 1969, p.28, figs.2-13/14.

Lot Essay

The elegant and delicate frame of this table regulator set it apart from more ordinary Victorian skeleton clocks. The arabesque frame was the finest that Evans produced and the present example is the company's best example. Relatively few mantel regulators were made in 19th century England compared to longcase and wall examples and skeletonised examples are rarer beasts still. The position of the seconds and hours rings has been reversed from the norm to accommodate Evans' pivoted detent escapement. The fully compensated pendulum should also be noted; along with the provision of maintaining power it is evidence that Evans regarded this clock as a serious timekeeping instrument as well as a highly decorative one.

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