M C Taylor Clocks

Description

A very good example of a 'Scarlet' Chinoiserie, Georgian period table clock in extremely good condition.

The 8 day duration, 5 knopped pillar, double gut fusee movement with attached pendulum Verge escapement and rack striking the hours on a top-mounted bell. The backplate engraved in the floral Rococo style and bearing a stylised bird on a plinth to the centre. The backcock and apron similarly also engraved and the short pendulum having a brass ‘teardrop’ bob.

Behind a 6" wide, break-arch brass dial with gilt brass corner and arch cast Rococo style spandrels and silvered and wax-filled chapters and name plate. The arch bearing a strike/silent chapter with a matted centre and the main chapter ring having small, outer Arabic numerals, divided minute track and inner, short Roman hour numerals. The finely matted centre has an upper ‘axe-head’ aperture with chamfered edges that displays the recessed name plate bearing the makers signature of “Benj(ami)n Ward (of) London” in flowing script. The lower portion has a tapered square aperture showing the calendar date. The 3 well-cut hands are blued steel.

Contained in a red lacquered inverted bell-top case, the top having a cast brass swinging carrying handle and each top corner having a cast brass flambeau finial. The returned top moulding is above the full-size locking front door with wooden fish scale sound frets to the arch quadrants. The sides of the case have tall break-arch sound apertures with cloth-backed metal mesh and the back has a generous locking door with glazed break-arch and also glazed quadrants. The case has an all-round short plinth with moulded top and four block feet. The chinoiserie decoration to the case is subdued and well-executed, mostly parcel gilt with areas of green to the front designs. There are also areas of silver lining.

This clock has been purchased from a private collection and is in extremely good condition. Benjamin Ward worked at Norton Folgate in London from 1765 - 90.

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.