A Fine and rare, George III mahogany, Regulator quality, Mudge & Dutton style, longcase clock by Thomas Best, London. Circa 1785.
A very rare and exceptional clock in good, original condition.
Stock No: 14315
The substantial and unusually made, seven knopped pillar movement with Graham Dead-beat escapement, Harrison maintaining power and rack striking the hours on a rear mounted vertical bell. Also having tall and shouldered plates the rear of which bears the engraved maker's signature "THO(ma)s. BEST LONDON", strike/silent facility, double regulator style backcock and crutch rod with pin. The escapement, being mounted above the usual height, receives transference of power via a vertical arbor and two contrate wheels allowing the seconds dial to be situated within the dial arch. As you would expect, the wooden pendulum rod has a very heavy, brass faced, lenticular bob.
Behind a 11 1'2" wide, break-arch brass and enamel dial. The brass dial-plate having two, circular white enamel dials, both with brass retaining bezels and the main dial having black Roman hour numerals, minute ring and outer, Arabic fives. The arch dial having black Arabic fives and an inner seconds ring. The blued steel hands are pierced and well executed with the seconds hand counterpoised. The S (strike) or N (not strike) selector is set between the dials and the corners and arch have full, finely cast, Rococo style spandrels.
Contained in a fine, mahogany, Mudge & Dutton style case of exceptional quality with rich colour, grain and patination. The elaborated break-arch hood surmounted with a brass ball finial and the well-formed top moulding sits over the full door that is flanked by canted, fluted and reeded front corners that terminate in 'Lambs ears'. The hood sides have tall rectangular inspection glazed apertures. The throat Cavetto moulding sits well over the trunk that has a well-figured, full-length door with a break-arch top conforming perfectly with the hood. The lower Cavetto moulding sits over the raised panelled base that also has a double, straight plinth and four low block feet.
* The quality of this clock is akin to that of Mudge & Dutton and there is indeed a link between them. In Tom Robinson's book 'The Longcase clock', on page 287 is a photograph of a very similar movement made by John Ellicott however, it can be seen that the quality of this movement far exceeds that example. This is an exceptionally fine and rare clock with no compromise on quality whatsoever. Very few examples of longcase clocks with true seconds in the arch can be found and I can only find four makers of such clocks:
1. Thomas Best - our maker whose work has been compared to that of Mudge and Dutton and he clearly
worked alongside them.
2. Samuel Aldworth - Joseph Knibb’s brightest and best apprentice who made clocks very similar to Joseph Knibb.
3. William Scafe - a maker of great repute who made complicated movements and dials.
4. John Topping - a well known maker of interesting and complicated equation-of-time Longcase clocks.
** We purchased this clock privately from a home in Salisbury, it wasthe property of a gentleman and has apparently never been on the openmarket since it was made
Dimensions: 88 1/2" high x 19" wide x 10" deep.
Circa: 1785.
Condition: Excellent and very original.
Price: £15,500.00 in overhauled and guaranteed condition.
