AN UNUSUAL REGENCY KINGWOOD CROSSBANDED MAHOGANY BALLOON-SHA...

Estimate

£2,500 - £3,500

AN UNUSUAL REGENCY KINGWOOD CROSSBANDED MAHOGANY BALLOON-SHAPED BRACKET CLOCK OF NOTABLE PROPORTIONSS. THORP, ABBERLEY, EARLY 19th CENTURYThe substantial five pillar twin chain fusee movement with thick plates measuring 8 by 6.75 inches and anchor escapement regulated by half-seconds lenticular bob pendulum incorporating pivoted beam rise/fall regulation to suspension, unusual cranked crutch arrangement with knife-edge impulse flag and elaborate hinged holdfast fitted to the backplate, the trip-repeating strike train sounding the hours as well as a single blow for the half hour on a bell set above the plates, 12 inch very slightly convex single sheet silvered brass Roman numeral dial with subsidiary regulation adjustment over calendar dial and signed J. Thorp, Abberley to centre, with fine rosette decorated pierced steel hands set behind a generous hinged convex glazed cast brass bezel within reeded surround, the waisted kingwood crossbanded case with surmount formed as four leaf-carved shallow S scrolls meeting at the apex over panel banded curved side panels interrupted by spiral-turned batons at the waist, the front with unusual Anthemion marquetry decoration and reeded border to the shaped panel beneath the dial, the rear with hinged circular door behind the movement and conforming mouldings to borders, and the base with further twist turned batons to sides and break-arch apron to front over generous ball and claw cast gilt brass feet.71cm (28ins) high, 48cm (19ins) wide, 24cm (9.5ins) deep.Samuel Thorp was born in Madeley Shropshire in 1765 and was apprenticed to Robert Webster of Shrewsbury in 1780. He worked from Abberley in Worcestershire and is particularly well known for his turret clocks including for Great Witley (1804) and Stourport-on-Severn Yacht club (1813), A sundial by him dated 1819 can also be found at Shrawley Parish Church. Samuel Thorp died at Abberley in 1838.The present clock is notable in the quality of execution of the movement with details such as thick plates, generous shaped cocks for the fittings and distinctive large shallow-headed screws. The cranked arrangement for the crutch (complete with knife edge impulse flag) follows the practice adopted by Henry Hindley, but with much more attention given to the engagement of the crutch with the pendulum in order to eradicate any play within the connection. These details are indictive of a clockmaker who had a great deal of pride in his work.

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Movement is in relatively clean condition with no visible evidence of alteration or noticeable replacements. The going train will run however the strike train is currently wound down and won't wind (possibly a jam with the winding ratchet) however can be made to strike if power is manually applied to the train. A gentle clean/service is also advisable. The dial has overall patchy oxidation, a small area of Verdigris at nine o'clock and crazing to the black infill of the numerals otherwise is in good original condition. Case is generally in good original condition exhibited only relatively minor age-related faults. The S-scroll carved sections forming the decorative superstructure are loose in their fixings and one of the scrolls is missing its tip. The side veneers exhibit historic shrinkage (but no notable movement in the carcass beneath) with some localised filling evident to the left-hand side. The mask around the dial (behind the bezel) has some slight chipping to the veneers adjacent to the lock aperture. The rear door has a slight warp otherwise faults to the case are very much limited to minor shrinkage and a few light bumps, scuffs and other age-related wear. Clock has pendulum, case key and a winder.