M C Taylor Clocks

Description

A very pretty little table clock of good quality by a renowned maker and retailer.

The very substantial 8 day duration, double chain fusee movement, having Anchor Recoil escapement and rack striking the hours on a rear-mounted and richly sounding, coiled steel gong. Also having strike/silent selection and a pendulum transit lock. The back plate is engraved with the maker's details: "PAYNE & Co.163 NEW BOND STREET. LONDON. No.2418."

Behind only a 4 1/2" wide, arched, silvered and engraved brass dial. The upper portion having the strike/silent selecting chapter and hand and the main chapter having an outer, divided minute track with triangular hour markings and Roman hour numerals. The dial centre is engraved with tha maker's details and number that matches the details on the movement back plate. The steel hands are of 'spade & poker' style.

Contained in an ebonised fruitwood veneered oak case that is embellished with cast ormolu mounts. The bell shaped top has a plinth-mounted brass 'flambeau' finial which is repeated to all 4 corners. It is also adorned with ormolu floral swags. The trunk of the case has a full-size locking front door with a brass framed arched glazed aperture to the dial area. The top 1/4's have cloth-backed sound frets, there are 2 ornate escutcheons and the sides are canted and carry ormolu caryatids. This is mirrored to the back of the case and the sides have tall, break-arch, ormolu cloth-backed sound frets. The short plinth has a moulded top and is mounted upon 4 ornate, ormolu scrolled feet.

William Payne began trading at 62 South Moulton Street, London in 1816 and by 1825 he had moved to 163 New Bond Street where he remained. The firm were highly regarded throughout.