Brass Dial Fusee Wall Clock Signed, "William Brooke, London"

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Brass Dial Fusee Wall Clock Signed, "William Brooke, London"

About the Item

The 14” dial is made from a single sheet of hammered cast brass, which is engraved with Roman hour markers inside a single line minute-track with Arabic numerals outside at every five minutes. This style of dial layout was rarely used on domestic clocks after circa 1800. Once the engraving had been filled with wax the dial was lightly straight-grained then silvered and finally protected with a shellac lacquer. Through the years this silver has now obtained a superb patina and is complete with the original matching blued steel hands. A few aspects of the clock can be referred to as "transitional" in design and execution. Most of the early English spring driven, domestic wall clocks were usually made with a brass dial and fitted with a verge escapement. The cases are distinctive and are known as saltboxes; the rectangular bodies of which were dovetailed together and fitted to a visible, decoratively shaped backboard. As the dial clock came to be produced in greater numbers, the engraved brass dial was replaced with one of painted iron, the verge was replaced by the anchor escapement and the case would generally be made with a veneered, curved bottom that followed the line of the bezel and with the back-board, no longer seen, recessed into the sides. The transitional element arose as these features gradually became introduced, not becoming the standard mode over night. This clock maintains it's original anchor escapement though the large A-frame plates and substantial pillars could well have been made for a more robust verge movement. The early saltboxes tended to be shaped at the top and bottom, whereas here the top of the box is flat and has a cast brass mirror plate by which to hang the clock. Including the two doors the whole saltbox has maintained a desirable dry condition and colour of which, care has been taken to preserve; therefore it has been left untouched and unwaxed. Another early particularity is the wooden bezel, which holds the characterful glass. These wooden bezels sometimes broke and were replaced. Though this piece has some splits and cracks it has survived complete with a sturdy hinge and lock. As a more prominent feature, the convex bezel and surround were originally French polished and have therefore retained a higher luster that catches the light.

Dimensions:
Height: 204.73 in (520 cm)Width: 173.23 in (440 cm)Depth: 61.03 in (155 cm)
Place of Origin:
United Kingdom
Period:
Early 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
1800
Condition:
Seller Location:
Kent, GB
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU97521644252