Circa 1760

SOLD

The case with brass handle to the squat inverted bell top, glazed break-arch sides, pierced ebony frets to the front door (later silks), later brass escutcheon, the moulded base on later pad feet.

6 inch silvered breakarch dial signed Just. Vulliamy London in the centre of the Roman and Arabic chapter ring beneath a mock pendulum aperture with foliage engraved brass background. The subsidiary dial in the arch for pendulum regulation, original pierced blued steel hands. The reverse of the dial with many old clockmakers’ scratch marks (March 1837 / July 1841 / 6 May 1845 etc.)

The movement with thick brass plates secured by five ring-turned pillars pinned at the front plate, spring barrel, fusee, wire lines, centre, contrate and crown wheels. Original pivoted verge escapement, the original pendulum with ring-turned engraved decoration to the substantial bob, the pendulum spring suspended from a spring-loaded steel bar across the top plates and interacting with the snail cam behind the dial for pendulum regulation.

The backplate is profusely engraved with foliage and flower heads in Vulliamy’s typical manner for the period. The centre of the backplate signed Just Vulliamy London within a foliate reserve – similarly engraved pendulum securing bar is secured with two tear drop cocks across the centre of the signature, on release of the pendulum the securing bar is pivoted 90% down and away from the swing of the pendulum (Vulliamy feature). The movement is secured in the case by two original foliate engraved brass brackets

12in. (30.5cm.) high

THE VULLIAMY FAMILY
1730 – 1854.
Justin Vulliamy
Francois Justin Vulliamy was born in Switzerland and emigrated to England circa 1730. He was a man of great ability and in 1743 went into partnership with his future father-in-law Benjamin Gray of Pall Mall (c.1720-64), whose daughter he married in 1746. Gray was by that time Clockmaker to George II, having been granted the Royal Warrant in 1742.  They produced clocks and watches of outstanding quality. From around 1780 Justin Vulliamy’s clocks started to be numbered.

There are many fine examples of Gray and Vulliamy’s work including a watch dated 1757 in the Guildhall Museum (once owned by James Stockham, commander of the ‘Thunderer’ at the battle of Trafalgar). Two long case clocks in the Wetherfield Collection (Dispersed 1928), and repeating watches are also documented in the Ilbert and the Dennison collections. Benjamin Gray died in 1764 and the Royal Warrant passed to Justin Vulliamy remaining with his family for three generations until 1854. Justin Vulliamy died circa 1790.  Benjamin Vulliamy The son of Justin, Benjamin Vulliamy was free of the Clockmakers Company in 1781 and continued the business, with Royal patronage, from Pall Mall. The author F.J.Britten states that he was ‘much favoured and consulted by George III on mechanical subjects especially in connection with Kew observatory, which was a hobby of the King’. There were numerous clocks supplied to the Royal family, including in 1785, a very fine regulator for the King. Benjamin Vulliamy died in 1820.  Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy Born in 1780, the son of Benjamin, Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy was free of the Clockmakers Company in 1809 and went into business with his father, continuing to trade from Pall Mall. He was clockmaker to George IV, William IV and Victoria. Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy died in 1854. He supplied many clocks to government offices as well as the Royal palaces.   *Although the numbering of Vulliamy clocks started many years before, the first surviving record book begins with clock No. 296 delivered in 1797. They are extremely rare and important documents showing details of the makers of cases & movements, date of manufacture, as well as prices. The Vulliamys maintained good relations with favoured suppliers over a long period, with particular types of clock usually made by the same supplier. For example: ‘…the best eight day spring clock with quarter chimes’ (bracket clock). Jackson of Chapel Row, Spa Fields made many of these movements, while most of the cases were by Rich of Lincoln’s Inn Fields. The price of these clocks in 1815 was 36 guineas.

A CHARLES II PEWTER INLAID EBONY TABLE CLOCK

Circa 1695

An important late 17th century table clock profusely inlaid with scrolling foliate pewter, the gilt handle surmounting a cushion moulded dome top, the sides with carved wood frets, with fine inlay to the door, the 6½-inch dial signed ‘Jonathan Lowndes in Pall Mall London’ with cherub spandrels, matted centre with calendar aperture and strike /not strike lever by IX, the similarly signed two train bell striking fusee movement with five knopped and ring-turned latched pillars, verge escapement and numbered outside count wheel, the backplate well engraved with foliate scrolls and tulips.

English, circa 1685

Height: 14 ¼ in.; 36.5 cm.
Width: 9 ½ in; 24 cm
Depth: 6 ¼ in; 16 cm

Jonathan Lowndes’ was probably born in 1656 as he was recorded to have married in September 1679, at the age of 23, in St. Martins in the Fields, London. He took a number of apprentices and had premises at The Dial in Pall Mall. There are no records of him after 1702 so that is likely to be the year of his death. This clock is extraordinary in having such an elaborate and costly case. In the flickering of candlelight the foliate pewter scrolling and matted gilt centre with cherub spandrels must have presented a splendidly rich object directly conveying the high status and sophistication of its owner. The type of rich pewter inlay is influenced by the work of the French royal cabinet maker Henri-Charles Boulle who provided much of the furniture to the great Palace of Versailles for Louis XIV at around the same time this clock was made in England.

The pierced brass movement frame has a tracery-arched top carrying the anchor escapement with substantial backcock. The two trains with spring barrels, fusees and chains, the movement plates are held by four substantial double baluster pillars which are secured by screws to the front and rear plates. There is the further addition of a strike/silent lever located above the motion work in the centre of the dial.

The tracery-pierced gilt-brass chapter ring is painted with Roman numerals, has blued steel moon-style hands and is signed BENNETT LONDON at chapter XII.

The movement is raised on two rectangular brass pedestals and is protected by a glass dome which rests on a later, purpose-made, mahogany oval base.

HEIGHT: 15¼ (39cm.), 8in. (20cm.) deep,
15in. (38cm.) wide

PRICE: £3,500

The well proportioned gilt-brass case has a faceted handle with well defined foliate tied central section. Large escapement viewing aperture with bevelled glass. Similarly glazed sides, solid gilt-brass rear door and moulded base resting on simple pad feet.

The dial has a perfect engine-turned mask and circular white enamel chapter disc signed Arnold 84 STRAND London. Black Roman chapters with outer minute track and blued steel fleur de lys hands.

The high quality movement comprises two thick gilt-brass plates held together by four front-pinned pillars. The going train has a spring barrel and fusee with Harrison’s maintaining power and chain lines. Three wheel train ending with a very high quality gilt-brass escapement platform with cut bimetallic compensated balance to the lever escapement, the backplate signed Arnold, Chas. Frodsham 84 Strand LONDON 664.

SIZE: 6¼ ins. (16cm.) high, 4in. (10cm.) wide, 3in. (8cm.) deep

PRICE: £7,500

PROVENANCE: The collection of the late Hans Staeger, Germany

AN IMPORTANT WILLIAM III MONTH-GOING WALNUT LONGCASE CLOCK
By
THOMAS TOMPION No. 318
Circa 1699

CASE
The case with three brass ball finials to the caddy top with the original elaborately pierced walnut frieze frets to the front and sides. Brass capped three quarter columns, the sides set with further elaborately pierced walnut frets. Concave throat moulding above the rectangular trunk door with robust brass hinges. The upper leading edge of the trunk door is clearly punched-numbered 318 in two places. Feather banded panels to the sides of the trunk and to the plinth which is raised on a skirted base

DIAL
The 11 inch square gilt-brass dial is signed Tho:Tompion Londini Fecit beneath the silvered chapter ring with Roman and Arabic chapters and sword hilt half hour markers. Elaborately pierced and sculpted blued steel hands, the finely matted centre with subsidiary silvered seconds ring, calendar aperture above VI with pin-hole adjustment. Finely cast double screwed gilt-brass Indian mask-and-foliate spandrels with foliate border engraving between.

MOVEMENT
Latched dial feet and further latches to the sic ring-turned pillars, bolt-and-shutter maintaining power, anchor escapement with slender steel crutch piece, pendulum with brass rod of circular section with calibrated silvered rating nut with small brass nib piece. Hour strike on a bell via a large diameter countwheel planted on the backplate which is further punch-numbered 318 at the base.

Size: 7ft 8 inches high

A FINE MAHOGANY STRIKING BRACKET CLOCK

Hidden strike/silent and pendulum regulation
dials, mock pendulum, calendar, verge
escapement, twin fusees, foliate engraved
backplate, purpose-made bracket.
26 inches high overall
£11,500

The Case
The brass handle is secured to the inverted bell top which has a thin brass-lined binding and a substantial moulding just above the main body. The sides are set with the original trellis-pierced brass sound frets and the moulded base is on brass bracket feet.
The brass-bound wall bracket slides forward to reveal a very useful key compartment, the bracket is of recent manufacture, it is prettily proportioned and in constructed in the correct contemporary style

The Dial
On opening the door a square silvered dial plate is revealed with two subsidiary dials engraved in the top left and right corners; one for regulating the pendulum and the other for strike/silent selection, both subsidiary dials have blued steel hands. The main dial has both Roman and Arabic chapters with the original blued steel hands. In the centre the dial is signed William Addis London in florid script. There is a further mock pendulum aperture above the centre of the hands and also a calendar aperture just above chapter VI

The Movement
There are five pillars and twin fusees with wire lines, the escapement is verge and the pendulum is suspended above the plates on a thin steel spring from a brass arm which is raised or lowered by the regulation subsidiary on the main dial. The hours are struck on a bell above the plates. The backplate is charmingly engraved with foliage around a central basket of fruit, there is a also the facility to secure the pendulum to prevent damage to the clock when moving it.

26 inches high (with wall bracket)

English, circa 1765

Height: 17 1/2 in; 44.5 cm
Width: 10 in; 25.5 cm
Depth: 7 1/4 in; 18 cm

Quintessential Ellicott table clock, brass-lined case, solid door, lenticular-framed dial, strike/silent, twin fusee, trip repeat, signed foliate engraved backplate.
16 inches high
£14,000

The Case

The inverted bell top case is veneered in fine quality flame mahogany with a handle above, standing on brass moulded block feet. The square front door aperture is framed with a brass bead and centred with a moulded gilt brass bezel. The side apertures are glazed and framed in brass.

The Dial

The square brass, silvered dial has Roman hour numerals and Arabic minutes and is signed Ellicott, London at the base with a strike/silent lever to the top right, both discretely hidden, when the door is closed. The original blued hands are well pierced and shaped.
The Movement The twin fusee movement has a verge and crown-wheel escapement and is rack striking. The backplate is profusely engraved with foliage and scrolls surrounding the signature Ellicott, London. The movement strikes the hours on a bell mounted above and trip repeats via a pull cord.

The Maker

John Ellicott was one of the most eminent clock and watchmakers of the 18th century. He was the son of a Cornishman, also John and also a clockmaker. John senior died in 1733. By 1728 his son has already established himself in business in Swithin’s Alley, Royal Exchange.
He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1738 and served on its council for three years. He was interested in many of the scientific developments of the days and maintained his own observatory at his home in Hackney. It is for his work on temperature compensated pendulums and the development of the use of the cylinder escapement that he is best known, but his reputation for the finest quality workmanship elevated him to the position of Clockmaker to the King.
In 1760 he took his son Edward into partnership, and they worked together until John’s death in 1772. During this period, many of their clocks, such as this example, are simply signed Ellicott, London. Such was his reputation that Edward retained the use of his father’s name until his own death in 1791.

SOLD

The brass-bound case with ogee moulded caddy top with brass inverted urn finials, above a moulded broken-arch cornice, elaborately pierced and chased brass sound frets to the four sides, three quarter brass-capped columns to each angle, further elaborate pierced brass side frets inhabited with squirrels, griffins, birds and flowering urns, brass knopped handles.
The 8 inch break-arch dial with wheatear engraved border, matted centre with mock pendulum aperture, silvered chapter ring with fleur de lys half hour markers and Indian mask spandrels, subsidiary dials in the arch; the central dial indicating the equation of time with outer concentric rings showing minutes faster or slower of solar time and the month, above a signature plaque engraved Peter Garon London and flanked by silvered dials for pendulum regulation to the left and strike/silent to the right, the arch edged by a lunette date ring 1-31 with long blued steel fly-back retrograde hand.
The movement with tall thick brass plates secured by seven pillars, triple fusees with gut lines, reversed striking fusees, grande sonnerie strike on six bells with six hammers and hour strike on a further bell. Pivoted verge escapement with pendulum spring-suspended from a regulation bar, lenticular pendulum bob. The backplate well engraved with scrolling foliage inhabited with birds and centred by Chronos above a basket of plenty, pendulum securing hook, movement securing brackets similarly engraved.

27½ inches high