Striking Bracket Clock
A striking bracket clock brings together fine cabinetmaking and mechanical precision, built originally for portability across grand rooms.
Striking Bracket Clock
A striking bracket clock is a portable table timepiece designed to sound the hours and often the quarters, originating in periods when clocks moved between rooms on brackets or tables.
The pieces seen here range from eighteenth-century Georgian mahogany and lacquered wooden cases to nineteenth-century Regency, Victorian, and later examples by English and continental makers.
Mahogany, ebonised wood, and oak dominate the housing, paired with brass details, silvered metal dials, and glass panels revealing the movement within.
Materials and construction
Clockmakers housed complex fusee or spring-driven movements inside timber cases built from mahogany, walnut, oak, or ebonised wood, frequently decorated with brass inlays,ormolu mounts, and glass viewing panels.
Dials utilise engraved brass, silvered metal, or white enamel, marking hours with delicate hands while the internal gear train drives the striking mechanism on bells or gongs.
Striking Bracket Clock Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for striking bracket clock among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Listings span periods from the 17th century through the 1960s, utilising mahogany, oak, ebonised wood, and brass.
Assessing craftsmanship and execution
Quality rests in the crispness of the cabinet woodwork, the refinement of the brass and ormolu mounts, and the complexity of the internal movement, such as triple fusee or quarter-striking configurations.
Superior examples combine harmonious proportions with signed dial work and intricate engraving on the backplate, reflecting the workshop's standing.
Cousens & Whiteside·George Wadham·William Gard·Barwise·Ellicott & Smith·Winterhalder & Hofmeier·Schneckenburger·Elliott·John Witherston·Henry Jones·Des Granges·Louis Recordon·Payne & Co·Luxor·Somersall·Ad Mougin·Agar·Frodsham & Baker·William Withers·John Taylor·James Smith·Chater & Son·Robert Higgs·J.W. Benson·John Leroux
The Striking Bracket Clock Glossary
- Fusee
- A conical pulley used in spring-driven clocks to maintain even power as the mainspring unwinds. This mechanism ensures consistent timekeeping across the duration of the wind.
- Verge escapement
- An early type of escapement mechanism that controls the release of power in the gear train. It often pairs with a short pendulum or balance spring in older clocks.
- Ting-tang
- A striking system utilising two bells or gongs to sound the quarters before the hour. It produces a distinctive two-tone sequence.
- Ormolu
- Gilded bronze or brass used for decorative mounts on clock cases. The technique involves applying a mercury-gold amalgam to the metal base.
- Silvered metal
- A brass dial plate treated with a silver solution to create a matte white finish for engraved numbers. This treatment provides high contrast for reading the time.
Striking Bracket Clock: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a bracket clock and a mantel clock?
Bracket clocks historically sat on wall-mounted wooden brackets or travelled between rooms on tables, featuring sturdy carrying handles on top.
Later mantel clocks evolved directly from these portable designs but were built specifically to rest permanently on fireplace mantels.
How do I identify the period of a wooden case?
Examine the timber choice, hardware style, and case silhouette, noting that eighteenth-century examples often feature pad tops while Regency pieces show brass inlay and brass feet.
Victorian and Edwardian versions frequently adopt heavier proportions or revival styles like Gothic and George II.
Where should I place my clock at home?
Choose a stable piece of furniture away from direct sunlight, central heating vents, and damp exterior walls to protect the wood and metal.
Ensure the surface is completely level so the pendulum or balance wheel beats evenly.