拍品专文
Born (date unknown) in Flockton, Yorkshire, Charles Clay was in London by 1716 or earlier. By 1720 he was at St James's and by 1736 he was at the Strand. He is most famous for his superb musical and organ clocks, such as the 'Temple of the Four Great Monarchies' which was acquired by Augustus, Prince of Wales in 1743 (see C. Jagger, Royal Clocks, London, 1983, pp. 77--81. With its distinctively large and attractively layed out subsidiary rings, the present clock is a fine example of his work. The tidal dial is probably for High Tide at London Bridge.