A find bracket clock produced by this famous partnership.
The eight day duration, 7 pillar, triple gut fusee, quarter chiming movement with detached pendulum verge escapement. Also having rise-and-fall regulation, strike/silent, pull quarter repeating on a top-mounted nest of 6 graduated bells, a further larger bell for the hours, blued stell screws throughout and a fully and beautifully engraved backplate, backcock, fixing brackets and pendulum holdfast with a floral design around a large cartouche area to the backplate that reads -
Benj.n Gray
Just. Vulliamy
Watchmakers to his MAJESTY
LONDON
The 7'' wide x 9 1/2'' high, break-arch brass and enamel dial has first-period cast brass corner spandrels, a circular white enamel main dial with outer, Arabic 5''s, minute track, inner Roman hour numerals and a further circle. The arch has two further subsidiary enamel dials the left of which is for the rise-and-fall regulation setting and the right of which is for the strike/
...silent selection. There is engraving to the lower arch portion and the top, between the dials carried the maker''s cartouche. All four blued steel hands are well-executed.
The well-figured mahogany case is of pleasing proportions and has an inverted bell top with a cast brass, swinging carrying handle. The returned top case moulding sits over a full-size locking front door that has moulding around the glazed aperture and the top quadrant apertures have brass sound frets that are backed with red cloth. The case sides have round top apertures over concave-top rectangular apertures that are glazed and edges with moulding and the rear of the case has a large rectangular locking door with moulding to its outer edges and also the break-arch glazed aperture. This also has top quadrants that have wooden sound frets. The short all-round plinth has a moulded top and sits upon four, cast brass, Ogee feet.
Justin Vulliamy arrived in London from Switzerland c1730. He married Benjamin Gray’s daughter and in 1743 he joined his father-in-law in partnership in Gray’s already well-established business in St James’s Street before moving to Pall Mall in 1752. Gray was appointed Clockmaker to George II in 1744. The partnership developed a great reputation as innovative makers of fine clocks and watches. The Royal association was maintained by the Vulliamy family until the mid-nineteenth century. These two fine makers need no introduction as their reputation is well known in Horological circles. This example is superb and has survived in original condition.
Dimensions: 18'' high including the handle x 10 3/4'' wide x 7 1/4'' deep (measured at the feet).
Condition: The movement is relatively clean, well maintained and working correctly but would benefit from an overhaul. The dial is excellent except for damage to the enamel around the winding holes caused by poor winding however, this can be restored invisibly. The case is very good except for minor damage due to its age and usage but nothing more and it is in respectable condition.
For further information please contact us at
info@bournemouthclocks.co.uk
Internal Reference: SA 14408
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA987787
Dateline of this antique is 18th Century
Height is 45.7cm (18.0inches)Width is 27.3cm (10.7inches)Depth is 18.4cm (7.2inches)
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