A large gilt brass mantle clock by Hart, Son, Peard & Co after a design by Bruce J. Talbert, the frame set with red glass cabochons surmounted by a conforming finial; the design for the silvered face developed from Roman numerals. English circa 1870. Bruce James Talbert 1838-1881 was first trained as a carver and then as an architect, joining the offices of Charles Edward of Dundee. In 1856 Talbert moved to Glasgow, working first at W.N. Tait''s practice and then that of Campbell Douglas''. From 1862 he began working with a succession of cabinet makers; Doveston, Bird & Hull, Manchester, Skidmore''s Art Manufactures, Coventry and Holland & Sons, London, where he was to design furniture for their stand at the Paris Expostion Universalle of 1867. By 1868 he was designing for Gillows of Lancaster before returning to Dundee to set up his own practice. In the same year he published his first and highly influential book, Gothic Forms Applied to Furniture, Metalwork and Decoration for Domestic Purposes, in which he championed the Reformed Gothic style using inlaid or pierced quatrefoil motifs, chamfered edges and chevrons. Made by Hart, Son, Peard & CoDesigned by Bruce Talbert Ref. Bonhams Roy Davids Sale.w.8.25 in x d.3.25 in x h. 11.75 in