Lot 92
92
A George III large gilt-brass mounted fruitwood four train musical table clock
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more THE PROPERTY OF A LADY
A George III large gilt-brass mounted fruitwood four train musical table clock

FRANCIS DORRELL, LONDON. CIRCA 1780

Details
A George III large gilt-brass mounted fruitwood four train musical table clock
Francis Dorrell, London. Circa 1780
The bell top case (formerly ebonised) with flame urn finials to all corners and surmounted by further finial with foliate scrolls flanking the central block, brass moulding to the front door, Bacchic terms with trailing flowers to the front angles, the sides with drop handles above silk-backed gilt-brass sound frets, raised on foliate scroll feet, the 10 in. wide brass dial with white enamel Roman and Arabic chapter disc and blued steel hands, the floral engraved arch with enamel plaque signed FRANS. DORRELL/LONDON and flanked by enamel subsidiaries for CHIME/NOT CHIME and six tune selection music selection (DUKE OF YORK'S MARCH/GOD SAVE THE KING/RULE BRITANIA/PLOUGH-BOY/MADRIGAL/LA BELLE CATHERINE, the substantial movement with seven ringed pillars, four chain and fusees, anchor escapement, hour strike on a single bell, the quarters playing on eight bells and the music playing on twelve bells via 3½ in. long pin barrel, the back plate engraved with scrolling foliage and signed Fra.s Dorrell/London; pendulum
33in. (84cm.) high
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

There are three Francis Dorrells recorded as clockmakers in London in the 18th Century. The present clock is almost certainly by the second, who worked in Whitecross Street. He was apprenticed in 1731 and was Free of the Clockmakers' Company 1755-1780. Musical table clocks with four trains are considerably rarer than their three train counterparts.

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