The Clock Work Shop

Description

A most impressive and very rare tidal and lunar dial, mahogany longcase clock.

The 12″, break-arch, silvered dial features a 24 hour Roman chapter, with outer 5 minute divisions, inner quarter hour markers and engraved asymmetrically scrolling foliates to the corners.

The inner dial carries two disks which are geared to the motion work. The outer disc has two chapters, the inner chapter (in Arabic numerals) has divisions for a lunar month and the outer chapter is a double 12 hour which indicates the state of the high tide at Bristol Quay. Both of these indications are marked by a brass arm with an engraved moon on its tip which is carried on the inner disc.

The hours are shown by a brass arm with an engraved sun which is carried on the outer disc. The inner disc is engraved with the state of the tide and also has a small, circular cut out for the age of the moon which is visible through the aperture. The dial centre carries a plain seconds hand, foliate minute hand and a silver disk marked ‘Earth’ which contrasts with a dark background and indicates the relative position of the earth and moon.

The arch of the dial features a well painted scene of Bristol Gorge and features a ship that rises and falls with the tide, and there is a standard, square calendar box.

The substantial, 8 day, hour striking movement with four large, knopped pillars, the plates extended to the sides to allow the escape wheel (carrying the centre sweep seconds) to be mounted between the barrels. Deadbeat escapement and a brass rod pendulum and a large bob regulated by an octagonal, graduated rating nut.

Suburb quality typical Bristol case, featuring choice veneers to the trunk door, reeded canted trunk corners, reeded hood columns with Corinthian capitals and finely cut fretwork to the hood and to the removable swan-neck caddy.

C.1790

Height: 97″/ 247cm or 86 ½”/ 220cm with caddy removed.