VERGE BRACKET CLOCK BY JOHN TAYLOR, LONDON. IN AN EBONISED BELL-TOP CASE. CIRCA 1780.

A typical example of a table clock by this good maker.

Stock No:   14453

The 8 day duration, 5 knopped pillar, double fusee movement with attached pendulum Verge escapement. Also having strike/silent, pull repeating rack and star-wheel striking the hours and half hour striking on a top-mounted bell, fully engraved backplate, backcock, tear-shaped apron, select return spring and fixing brackets. The engraving is in ‘high floral Rococo’ style.

Behind a 6" wide, break-arch brass dial with cast brass Rococo style spandrels, silvered strike/silent select chapter to the arch with a matted centre, silvered main chapter ring with small Arabic outer 5’s minute track, short Roman hour numerals and inner, Arabic calendar date numerals. The finely matted centre has an axe-head aperture at the top bearing a rear-mounted and silvered makers plate of exceptional quality bearing the name “John Taylor (of) London”. The well-cut hour, minute and strike select hands are blue steel and the centre-sweep calendar hand is polished brass with an arrow tip.

Contained in an ebonised bell-top case. The top has a cast brass, swinging carrying handle and each corner has a cast brass pineapple finial. The returned all-around top moulding sits over the full-size locking and glazed front door with cloth backed wooden sound frets to the arch quadrants and a brass key escutcheon. The case sides have tall, arched glazed apertures and the rear has a rectangular glazed and locking door. The all-around short plinth has a top moulding and sits upon 4 cast brass shaped and flat-sided feet. The strike repeating pull exits the case from the bottom.

* Originally, these clocks could be carefully carried from room to room still ticking as to not lose any time because of their very robust 'Verge' escapement with attached pendulum or more importantly, to the bed chamber at night whereas the silent option would be selected so the sleeper would not be awoken at each and every hour. If the time was required then the repeat cord would be tugged and the previous hour struck would be sounded.

** John Taylor is a well-known maker and always produced good bracket clock. He worked out of Gloucester Street around circa 1780. This clock has all of his trademark features, such as the style of hands, centre-sweep calendar work and finest quality engraving, particularly of his signature. This example is about as totally original as you can get.

Dimensions:                 20" high including the handle x 10" wide x 7" deep.

Circa:                           1780.

Condition:                    The movement has been maintained and appears to have been recently overhauled.
                                    It is working well, striking the hours and keeping time, however would benefit from
                                    another overhaul. The datework is present and working correctly. The case is
                                    restored and apart from the door locks requiring overhauling, is in excellent
                                    condition. The dial and hands are excellent and there is almost no lost wax to the
                                    engraving.

Price:                           £6,250 in its present condition. However, a price and timescale for any work required
                                    by the purchaser can be advised upon enquiry.