M. C. Taylor has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
The extremely substantial, triple chain fusee movement with Anchor Recoil escapement. It has rack and flirt-release to the chiming and striking trains, playing the Whittington chimes for the quarters on a top-mounted, nest of eight silver bells and sounding the hours on a rear-mounted, high quality, larger bell.
Having an eight inch wide, shaped and painted dial that conforms to the Indo-Saracenic architectural style of the case. The shaped top has a CHIME and SILENT dial written in black and has a shaped brass selector hand. Below this is a full-size minute ring and black Roman numerals also, the maker's name "JOSEPH DAVIE, 201 HIGH HOLBORN" above and below centre. The matching brass hands are of 'open moon' style. The dial corners are decorated with Regency style floral swags and scrolls, gently carried out in pastel colours. The dial is within with a conforming brass frame that is set within the door that is also glazed.
The beautiful mahogany case. The sweeping and gadrooned pagoda top has inset brass decoration with curled tops and carries a large and magnificent cast brass, pineapple finial. This sits upon a short plinth with inset geometric style brass fretwork with cloth backing which in turn, is mounted upon a cushion shaped moulding that is inset with brass ornamentation. The main body of the case is straight sided but with angled square section columns to the front that are inlaid with brass stringing to all three sides and have brass acanthus capitals, bases and shaped top blocks that carry cast brass pineapple finials. The door is edged in ebony cockbeading and is inlaid with brass in a floral design, similarly, the frieze area below it which is upon three brass-edged steps. The plain sides have Gothic arch sound apertures with cloth backed, brass frets resembling church windows in design. The case sits upon four substantial, brass ball feet.
The clock is supplied with an expensively made, bespoke wall-mounted mahogany bracket. This gives the option of situating the clock upon a wall or table.
This fabulous clock is a 'Show-stopper'. It was influenced by the Brighton Pavilion which was highly fashionable at the time of it's manufacture having been sold to the people of Brighton by Queen Victoria in 1850. Within a year the pavilion have been completely re-decorated and open to the public. Brighton was prospering and attracted 'High Society'. The cost of the clock would have been substantial and we have only seen one other example. Joseph Davie is recorded as working from 1828 to 1857.
The case and dial are in excellent condition having good colour and patina. The movement is working very well, keeping good time and chiming well. It would however benefit from a complete overhaul as it is very neglected. The whole clock is, on the whole, totally original and is offered in its present working condition at half the price of the fully restored retail value (£12,500). The movement can be overhauled by us, please enquire for cost.
The purchased item can be collected at a time mutually agreed, or alternatively we can arrange delivery, for which a quotation can be supplied.
For further information, please contact us via email at
info@bournemouthclocks.co.uk.
M. C. Taylor has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Clockmakers and restorers established 1987
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the M. C. Taylor Profile Page
A Large Quarter Chiming Bracket Clock in an Inlaid Mahogany Case. Circa 1850
