Chalfont Clocks has dated this Regency Mahogany Bracket Clock to the Georgian era.
With an engraved pendulum of stirrup regulation and rack striking on a bell. The movement is housed behind a painted roman dial also signed Barraud LONDON.
The case is highly unusual with only one other example known. The Egyptian influenced inlay is reminiscent of designs by Thomas Hope in his influential Household Furniture and Interior Decoration published in 1807. The Mahogany case with gothic ebony column clusters supported on lions paw feet, and lancet top is surmounted by a pyramid with decorative and extremely fine marquetry inlay. The sound vents on each side of very idiosyncratic design in brass fretwork backed with dark blue velvet. The case design reflects the highly eclectic style of the late Georgian/Early Regency period and in particular the influence of Thomas Hope.
Paul Philip Barraud moved his company to the Cornhill premises in 1808, In 1809, the oldest child, Frederick Joseph, joined his father in partnership of the firm, at which point the name of the firm is changed to 'Barrauds'. This means we can confidently date this clock to 1808-1809, as the clock is marked with the Cornhill address but still signed in the singular BARRAUD. This date is important as it coincides closely with the publication of Hope’s decorative treatise and shows the influence of the Egyptian style in London at this time.
The Barraud family were an important family of clockmakers, originally French Huguenots, they arrived in London following persecution in France. Francis-Gabriel Barraud was born in 1727 and was a watchmaker by trade. With his elder son Paul Philip, born in 1752, and younger son John, he would establish the Barraud horology firm. By 1782 they were established in Fleet Street and were listed in trade directories simply as 'Barrauds'. Paul Philip seems to have focused on clocks, as several orders for movements by Thwaites are found in his name only. Shortly after this point, in 1795, Francis-Gabriel died, and Paul Philip took control of the firm signing his clocks BARRAUD. By the end of that same year, Paul Philip had entered into partnership with another horologist, George Jamison, and they began to manufacture chronometers. Barraud and BArraud and sons would late go on to win logitude prizes for their chronometers and supply the admiralty.
Paul Phillip Barraud was master of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers twice in in 1810 and 1811, a mark of the esteem he was held in as it was highly unusual to be master for two consecutive years.
Interestingly this clock is stamped ROBSON 2150 on the front plate and also in the spring barrel caps, this suggests the movement was actually made by William Robson, who although a master horologist in his own right often manufactured clock movements for other clock makers just as Twaithes had done. William Robson was Master of the Clock Makers Company twice in 1809 & 1816 and died in 1823, so this clock has the hand of two of Georgian London’s top clockmakers present in it’s creation.
Examples of Barraud’s work can be found in the British Museum, the Science Museum, The Royal Observatory and the London Guildhall Collections.
This clock has been overhauled in our workshop and comes with our two year guarantee.
BARRAUD, the story of a family. By E.M. Barraud.
WATCHMAKERS AND CLOCKMAKERS OF THE WORLD By G.H. Baillie,
The Georgian Bracket Clock, 1714-1830 By Richard Barber
English Bracket and Mantel Clocks By Andrew Nicholls
Chalfont Clocks has dated this Regency Mahogany Bracket Clock to the Georgian era.
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A Paul Philip Barraud Bracket Clock in the manner of Thomas Hope.
