A brass-mounted walnut table clock of excellent colour, mid 18th century with 19th century adaptations
Henry Thornton, London
The inverted bell top case with substantial handle over brass banding between the caddy levels and four cone finials to a well moulded cornice, fish scale side frets, moulded base on brass block feet, the front door, sides and rear door all framed in cast brass borders. The 6.75 inch arched brass dial signed in a shaped silvered plaque above a pair of subsidiaries for strike/silent and rise-and-fall regulation with decorative engraving between, the silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring framed by Indian-mask spandrels, with finely matted centre, large mock pendulum aperture and chamfered date aperture (both apertures now blocked), with blued steel hands. The movement now converted to quarter chiming, with three 19th century fusees and barrels, the latter extending beyond the base of the movement and contained within brass plates, the going train with anchor escapement, the striking train wheel-work largely 18th century, the quarter train chiming on eight bells and hammers. The backplate centred by an engraved basket of fruit amid a series of interlaced foliate scrolls. 49cms (1ft 7ins) high.
Footnotes:
Henry Thornton was an apprentice in 1692 to Samuel Stevens before being admitted to the Clockmakers Company in 1699. He was recorded as working at 'ye Dial in Basing Lane' in 1723 and by 1730 he was working at the Royal Exchange. His last entry with the Clockmakers Company dates from 1732. His work has had a global distribution; one longcase made by him is known in Boston, USA, and a longcase, two table clocks and two pocket watches made by him are in Russia; one of the chiming clocks is in the State Hermitage Museum collection and both watches formed part of the Tsar's personal collection.