A GEORGE II SMALL BRASS MOUNTED EBONISED BRACKET/TABLE CLOCK...

Estimate

£1,800 - £2,500

A GEORGE II SMALL BRASS MOUNTED EBONISED BRACKET/TABLE CLOCK WITH PULL-QUARTER REPEAT ON TWO BELLSJOHN PYKE, LONDON, CIRCA 1750The six pillar twin fusee bell striking movement with pull-quarter repeat on a graduated pair of bells before sounding the hour on the larger hour bell, and now with anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum, the 5 inch gilt brass break-arch dial with shaped false bob aperture and applied signature plate engraved Jn'o Pyke, LONDON to the finely matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minutes beyond the outer minute track, with scroll pierced steel hands and the angles applied with unusual leafy scroll cast spandrels, beneath arch centred with a subsidiary calendar dial flanked by conforming leafy mounts, the break-arch case with hinged brass carrying handle to a single wide brass-fillet moulded pad to top over generous ogee and cavetto top mouldings, the opening front with brass fillet-edged glazed dial aperture, the sides with break-arch windows bordered with conforming brass fillet mouldings and the rear matching the front, on brass bound ogee moulded skirt base with brass block feet.30cm (11.75ins) high with handle down, 20cm (8ins) wide, 14cm (5.5ins) deep. John Pyke is recorded in Dzik, Sunny BENEATH THE DIAL, English Clock Pull Repeat Striking 1672-1725 (page 453) as apprenticed to Richard Westwood in 1710 and gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1720. He worked in Holborn and later 'the corner of Bedford Row'. He is thought to have specialised in musical clocks and likely finished Charles Clay's masterpiece musical clock titled 'The Temple of the Four Great Monarchies of the World' at Kensington Palace after Clays death. John Pyke's only son, George, followed in his footsteps to became a clockmaker and organ builder. John Pyke enjoyed a relatively long career and died in 1762. It would appear that John Pyke produced a small series of clocks to this design with an essentially identical clocks selling at Christies, King Street sale of Important Clocks, Watches and Marine Chronometers 25th November 1998 (lot 304) for £5,750. Another example was also sold at Tennants, Leyburn The Three Day Spring Catalogue Sale 2nd April 2009 (lot 1353) for £3,400 hammer. The 'dual' rack system of quarter-repeat mechanism utilised for the current lot can be broadly compared to that of another clock by John Pyke described and illustrated by Dzik on pages 453-54. This other example sounds on a nest of six bells and differs mostly in the flirt-arm and quarter rack hook arrangements, otherwise the fundamental layout is the same as that for the present clock.

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Clock is in full working condition however the calendar advances at around 8 o'clock (hence requires adjustment) and the strike train is prone to mis-counting (losing one hammer blow) during one operation. This again is probably due to adjustment and the strike mainspring being particularly strong. The going train has been converted from verge regulated by short bob pendulum to anchor escapement hence all wheel above the centre wheel are replacements, the strike train appears all-original except for the wheel driving the fly. The repeat work has seen some restoration with at least one wheel replaced (adjacent to the fly) but is largely original and in working condition. Although the mechanism is working it is somewhat dirty/discoloured hence a clean and overhaul is advised. The dial is in good clean condition with only light wear/rubbing to the plate evident and slight oxidation only. The minute hand has been repaired. The case is generally eminently presentable. The top has some front-to back shrinkage cracking to the pad as well some very slight movement to the surrounding structure (none of which is deemed problematic). The front door and dial mask are in fine condition; the left hand side has some slight veneer cracking and a small amount of wear (including one small chip) to the veneer bordering the aperture. The right-hand side has lesser cracking and only one small chip. The rear has one very small chip to the upper moulding at the knee of the break-arch (just above the right-hand corner of the rear door) otherwise is in fine condition including the door. Internally the base board has been cut with a slot to allow for the larger lenticular bob pendulum. The lower rail of the rear of the case as well as that of the back door has been thinned to provide extra clearance for the bob. Otherwise faults to the case are very much limited to minor bumps, scuffs. Shrinkage and other age-related wear/blemishes.Clock has a pendulum but no case key or winder.