What is a Georgian verge bracket clock?

A Georgian verge bracket clock is a portable spring-driven timepiece developed in 18th-century Britain, featuring a verge escapement mechanism and designed to sit on a wall bracket, mantelpiece, or table.

What materials are used in 18th-century ebonised bracket clocks?

These clocks typically feature fruitwood or oak cases stained black to imitate ebony, combined with brass movements, gilt cast spandrels, silvered chapter rings, and brass carrying handles.

How can you identify an authentic 18th-century bracket clock?

Authentic examples contain crown-wheel verge escapements or crown-wheel conversions, fusee movements, hand-engraved backplates, cast corner spandrels, and maker markings on the dial plate.

How do you style an ebonised bracket clock in a modern interior?

Position the clock centrally on a mantelpiece, sideboard, or desk to act as a focal point, balancing the dark ebonised finish against lighter backgrounds or alongside brass decor.

How should an antique bracket clock case and movement be maintained?

Dust the wood case gently with a dry cloth, keep the piece away from direct heat sources to prevent timber shrinkage, and arrange professional servicing for the mechanical movement every five to seven years.

for sale €7,313 $7,938

£6,250

M. C. Taylor

Sellingantiques Verified Since Oct 2021

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Clockmakers and restorers established 1987

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John Taylor London Clock

Id #SA970071

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John Taylor, London, Verge Bracket Clock, in Ebonised Bell-top Case. circa 1780.

18th century

For Sale by M. C. Taylor

Description

A typical example of a table clock by this good maker.

The 8 day duration, 5 knopped pillar, double fusee movement with attached pendulum Verge escapement. Also having strike/silent, pull repeating rack and star-wheel striking the hours and half hour striking on a top-mounted bell, fully engraved backplate, backcock, tear-shaped apron, select return spring and fixing brackets. The engraving is in ‘high floral Rococo’ style.

Behind a 6" wide, break-arch brass dial with cast brass Rococo style spandrels, silvered strike/silent select chapter to the arch with a matted centre, silvered main chapter ring with small Arabic outer 5’s minute track, short Roman hour numerals and inner, Arabic calendar date numerals. The finely matted centre has an axe-head aperture at the top bearing a rear-mounted and silvered makers plate of exceptional quality bearing the name “John Taylor (of) London”. The well-cut hour, minute and strike select hands are blue steel and the centre-sweep calendar hand is polished brass with an arrow tip.

Contained in an ebonised bell-top case. The top has a cast brass, swinging carrying handle and each corner has a cast brass pineapple finial. The returned all-around top moulding sits over the full-size locking and glazed front door with cloth backed wooden sound frets to the arch quadrants and a brass key escutcheon. The case sides have tall, arched glazed apertures and the rear has a rectangular glazed and locking door. The all-around short plinth has a top moulding and sits upon 4 cast brass shaped and flat-sided feet. The strike repeating pull exits the case from the bottom.

* Originally, these clocks could be carefully carried from room to room still ticking as to not lose any time because of their very robust 'Verge' escapement with attached pendulum or more importantly, to the bed chamber at night whereas the silent option would be selected so the sleeper would not be awoken at each and every hour. If the time was required then the repeat cord would be tugged and the previous hour struck would be sounded.

** John Taylor is a well-known maker and always produced good bracket clocks. He worked out of Gloucester Street around circa 1780. This clock has all of his trademark features, such as the style of hands, centre-sweep calendar work and finest quality engraving, particularly of his signature. This example is about as totally original as you can get.

Dimensions: 20" high including the handle x 10" wide x 7" deep.

Condition: The movement has been maintained and appears to have been recently overhauled. It is working well, striking the hours and keeping time, however would benefit from another overhaul. The datework is present and working correctly. The case is restored and apart from the door locks requiring overhauling, is in excellent condition. The dial and hands are excellent and there is almost no lost wax to the engraving.

Price: The price is for the clock in its present condition. However a price and timescale for any work required by the purchaser can be advised upon enquiry.

For further information please contact us at

info@bournemouthclocks.co.uk

Physical Dimensions

Height

50.8cm (20.00")

Width

25.4cm (10.00")

Depth

17.8cm (7.01")

Declaration

M. C. Taylor has dated this Ebonised Verge Bracket Clock to the 18th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA970071

Dealers Internal Reference

SA14453

Description

A typical example of a table clock by this good maker.

The 8 day duration, 5 knopped pillar, double fusee movement with attached pendulum Verge escapement. Also having strike/silent, pull repeating rack and star-wheel striking the hours and half hour striking on a top-mounted bell, fully engraved backplate, backcock, tear-shaped apron, select return spring and fixing brackets. The engraving is in ‘high floral Rococo’ style.

Behind a 6" wide, break-arch brass dial with cast brass Rococo style spandrels, silvered strike/silent select chapter to the arch with a matted centre, silvered main chapter ring with small Arabic outer 5’s minute track, short Roman hour numerals and inner, Arabic calendar date numerals.

“

The finely matted centre has an axe-head aperture at the top bearing a rear-mounted and silvered makers plate of exceptional quality bearing the name “John Taylor (of) London”.

M. C. Taylor

The well-cut hour, minute and strike select hands are blue steel and the centre-sweep calendar hand is polished brass with an arrow tip.

fig 1. An 18th-century ebonised bell-top verge bracket clock with a brass carrying handle, brass corner finials, and a brass dial with silvered chapter rings. — fig 1. John Taylor, London, Verge Bracket Clock, in Ebonised Bell-top Case. circa 1780.

Contained in an ebonised bell-top case. The top has a cast brass, swinging carrying handle and each corner has a cast brass pineapple finial. The returned all-around top moulding sits over the full-size locking and glazed front door with cloth backed wooden sound frets to the arch quadrants and a brass key escutcheon. The case sides have tall, arched glazed apertures and the rear has a rectangular glazed and locking door. The all-around short plinth has a top moulding and sits upon 4 cast brass shaped and flat-sided feet. The strike repeating pull exits the case from the bottom.

fig 2. An 18th-century ebonised bell-top verge bracket clock with a brass carrying handle, brass corner finials, and a brass dial with silvered chapter rings. — fig 2. John Taylor, London, Verge Bracket Clock, in Ebonised Bell-top Case. circa 1780.

Originally, these clocks could be carefully carried from room to room still ticking as to not lose any time because of their very robust 'Verge' escapement with attached pendulum or more importantly, to the bed chamber at night whereas the silent option would be selected so the sleeper would not be awoken at each and every hour. If the time was required then the repeat cord would be tugged and the previous hour struck would be sounded.

fig 3. An 18th-century ebonised bell-top verge bracket clock with a brass carrying handle, brass corner finials, and a brass dial with silvered chapter rings. — fig 3. John Taylor, London, Verge Bracket Clock, in Ebonised Bell-top Case. circa 1780.

John Taylor is a well-known maker and always produced good bracket clocks. He worked out of Gloucester Street around circa 1780. This clock has all of his trademark features, such as the style of hands, centre-sweep calendar work and finest quality engraving, particularly of his signature. This example is about as totally original as you can get.

fig 4. An 18th-century ebonised bell-top verge bracket clock with a brass carrying handle, brass corner finials, and a brass dial with silvered chapter rings. — fig 4. John Taylor, London, Verge Bracket Clock, in Ebonised Bell-top Case. circa 1780.

Dimensions: 20" high including the handle x 10" wide x 7" deep.

Condition: The movement has been maintained and appears to have been recently overhauled. It is working well, striking the hours and keeping time, however would benefit from another overhaul. The datework is present and working correctly. The case is restored and apart from the door locks requiring overhauling, is in excellent condition. The dial and hands are excellent and there is almost no lost wax to the engraving.

fig 5. An 18th-century ebonised bell-top verge bracket clock with a brass carrying handle, brass corner finials, and a brass dial with silvered chapter rings. — fig 5. John Taylor, London, Verge Bracket Clock, in Ebonised Bell-top Case. circa 1780.

Price: The price is for the clock in its present condition. However a price and timescale for any work required by the purchaser can be advised upon enquiry.

For further information please contact us at

info@bournemouthclocks.co.uk