Lancet shaped striking bracket clock with a rare feature by John Thwaites of Clerkenwell. Circa 1809.
Numbered 4366 this table clock has a possibly unique feature for the time it was made.... read on!
Stock No: 14471
The 8 day duration, 5 pillar, double fusee movement with Anchor Recoil escapement and rack striking the hours on a rear-mounted bell. Also having pull repeating and automatic night silencing which sounds 11pm and then remains silent until 9am the following morning. The backplate has 'wriggle work' and line bordering which is repeated on the pendulum bob that also has a central star and a carved rod. The front plate is stamped with the maker's initials and numbered 4366 in his usual way.
Behind a 7" diameter, bowed painted iron dial with a cream background and black inking. Having outer divided minute track, Roman hour numerals and the centre bearing the signature "John Thwaites No., 4366. Clerkenwell". The matching elaborated 'open moon' hands are blued steel. The cast and locking brass bezel has a 'snapped-in' bowed glass.
Contained in an ebonised fruitwood veneered oak case with a lancet shaped top. The front has proud brass stringing to the edge and this is also inlaid in conforming geometric designs above and below the dial. The sides have brass lion's mouth carrying handles above lancet shaped sound apertures that carry red cloth-backed, cast brass, Gothic frets. The rear has a full-size locking and glazed door and the all-round short plinth is brass bound and sits upon 4 brass ball feet.
* John Thwaites was the son of Aynsworth Thwaites who founded the family clockmaking dynasty in about 1735. The firm in the 18th and 19th centuries became the most prolific clockmaking firm in England. In 1772, Aynsworth apprenticed his son John to the family business. John succeeded Aynsworth as head of the firm from 1780 to 1816, and was master of the Clockmakers’ Company in 1815, 1819, and 1820. In 1816, Thwaites partnered with George Jeremiah Reed, and the firm became Thwaites & Reed. John Thwaites remained at the firm’s head until 1842. Thwaites’ records of serial numbers from 1761 to 1910 still exist today. From these, we can date this clock to 1809. The automatic strike silent is widely used in modern clocks but is not known in clocks of this period and the maker is well known for many innovations.
** My thought: This isn't just a working piece of art, it's an amazing historical clock with a brilliant pedigree that is 214 years old and, at a very affordable price!
Dimensions: 15 1/4" high x 9" wide x 6" deep.
Circa: 1809.
Condition: When I acquired this clock it was in a bit of a state and I consider myself as its
'rescuer'. As is so often the case, it was probably viewed as a mahogany case that
had been painted black because of the close grain and colour of the fruitwood veneer.
It had been stripped back and also, a botched attempt to convert the auto silent to
strike silent had been made. Fortunately, the original was still with the clock and I
reversed this and set it up correctly. I had the case restored and also the dial because
the paint surface was very unsound and damaged. The movement is dirty and would
benefit from an overhaul however, it is working perfectly in every way and striking
correctly. All of the parts are original.
Price: £3,750 in its present and working condition. Should the purchaser wish for any work
to be carried out by us then a price and timescale can be advised upon enquiry.
