A fine Victorian engraved gilt brass hump-back carriage clock with push-button repeat and original black marble inset stand Probably by Thomas Cole for retail by Edward Biven, London, circa 1845 The rectangular two train going barrel movement with four plain pillars pinned through the backplate, five-spoke wheel crossings and rear winding, the four-wheel going train regulated by horizontal gilt platform ratchet tooth lever escapement with sprung steel three-arm balance mounted above the plates, the strike train devised without warning and with push-button repeat sounding on a gong mounted on the movement backplate, the arched silvered brass dial finely engraved with intense asymmetric foliate scrolls on a horizontal hatched ground to centre and with fine blued steel fleur-de-lys hands within a 3.25 inch Gothic Roman numeral chapter ring inscribed EDWARD BIVEN, KING WILLIAM STREET CITY either side of the XII numeral and with narrow outer minute track, the borders overlaid with a shaped gilt brass mask surround further engraved with conforming leafy trails and incorporating inset shaped silvered reserve featuring a single elaborate floral spray to lower margin, the arched case with bevelled front glass secured within repeating leaf decorated bezel plate by screws to a one-piece casting engraved with continuous large scale bird inhabited floral trail to top and sides and fitted with unusual two-piece hinged interlocking carrying handle, the sides with applied repeating leaf decorated skirts at the base, the back with one-piece frosted gilt plate fitted with shuttered winding holes and FAST/SLOW regulation within impressive engraved trophy panel incorporating quiver of arrows, bow, tambourine and a nesting bird, on shaped bracket feet, 17cm (6.75ins) high with handle folded; with original stand with rectangular cavetto moulded black marble insert to gilt floral trail engraved canted skirt, 24cm (9.5ins) high overall with handle raised. Edward Biven does not appear in usual reference works however he his recorded in The London Gazette as watch maker and jeweller of 64 Great William Street as having bankruptcy proceedings filed against him April 8th 1854. The life and work of Thomas Cole is extensively documented in Hawkins, J.B. THOMAS COLE & VICTORIAN CLOCKMAKING. Thomas Cole was born in Nether Stowey, Somerset in 1800. His father, Thomas senior, was a local clockmaker who is now known to have moved his family to Taunton in around 1815; he was a talented maker who probably taught both Thomas and his older brother, James Ferguson, the clockmaking trade. By 1821 James Ferguson had moved to London and filed a Patent for a pivoted detent escapement, by 1823 he was working from New Bond Street where he was joined by his younger brother, Thomas. Over the next twelve years the two brothers worked alongside each other and produced a series of highly complicated silver 'humpback' carriage clocks very much in the manner of Abraham Louis Breguet (leading some to speculate a connection between Breguet and the Cole brothers). The brothers then went their separate ways with James Ferguson going on to explore his technical abilities later developing a series of escapement designs including a 'resilient' lever escapement (1830), a 'double rotary' escapement (1840), a detached escapement calliper (1849) and an escapement with negative diameter (1859). Thomas Cole sought to specialise in small decorative timepieces of the highest quality. By 1845 he was advertising himself as a Þsigner and maker of ornamental clocks' and in 1851 submitted examples for display at the Great Exhibition, both under his name, and on the stands of other leading retailers such as Hunt & Roskel and Hancocks. He then went on to exhibit at the Paris Exhibition of 1855 where his entry warranted an 'Honourable Mention', and again at the British International Exhibition in 1862 where he was awarded a medal for 'Excellence of taste and design'. Thomas Cole was elected to the Royal Society of Arts in June 1861; he died three years later of typhoid fever, at his home at 1 Westbourne Park Road, Paddington, leaving his second wife Charlotte and their three children (two boys and one girl). The originality and inventiveness of design coupled with the exceptional quality of finish ensured an enduring popularity for Thomas Cole's work, mainly from the rising Nouveau Riche class of Victorians made wealthy from the Industrial Revolution. Other than the retailer's signature the current lot appears to be unsigned and unnumbered however both the movement and case do possess features which would strongly support an attribution to Thomas Cole. These include the movement having going barrels rather than fusees for motive power, five-spoke wheel crossings and regulation by relatively standard form of non-compensated lever escapement. The strike train operates without warning - an important detail which is typical of Cole's work. The case utilises a very precise one-piece principal casting (again typical for Cole) which is then inset with a dial plate layered with pierced fretwork finely engraved with foliate motifs on a horizontally hatched ground to stunning decorative effect. The numerals, minute track and retail signature to the chapter ring are painted rather than engraved, which although may seem a little illogical bearing in mind the amount of engraved decoration elswhere, is entirely commensurate with Cole's work (as are the finely worked blued steel hands). The two-piece interlocking handle to the top of the case is a delight and would again suggest Cole's input as would the provision of a separate stand for the clock. The lack of serial number or concealed signature by Cole may suggest that the current lot is a relatively early example (made prior to 1846/7 when Cole started numbering his clocks) which was supplied direct to Edward Biven. This possibility is entirely commensurate with Cole's initial working practices with a large proportion of his output being supplied direct to retailers. The very rare 'hump-back' shape of the clock is notable in that this form harks back to the magnificent complex carriage clocks made by his brother James Ferguson Cole a couple of decades earlier. A related 'hump-back' carriage clock of the same dimensions attributed to Thomas Cole was sold on 14th December 2013 by Vickers and Hoad of Sydney for a hammer price of $15,000 AUD. IMPORTANT NOTES REGARDING THE CATALOGUING OF CLOCKS: Movements, dials and cases: movements and dials are described as relating to the cases in which they are housed in one of the following three ways: the case.... we are of the opinion that the movement and dial started life in the current case. in a case... we are of the opinion that the movement and dial are in a case of correct period and type (and may well be original to the movement and dial), however there is evidence to suggest that they may not have started out life together. now in a case... we are of the opinion that the movement and dial are no longer in the original case as it is not of correct period and/or type. Pendulums, weights, winding and case keys: unless specifically indicated otherwise in the catalogue description it can be assumed that all clocks with cases are sold with the requisite pendulum and correct number of weights (where appropriate), however we cannot guarantee that they are original to the clock. This excludes lantern clocks or loose movements which are more often than not offered without pendulums or weights. We do not indicate in the catalogue description whether winding or case keys are present with any specific clock. As many clocks are consigned without keys please check with the department to establish whether they are present or not prior to bidding. Condition: due to the mechanical nature of clocks and the fact that most are of great age we cannot offer any guarantee as to whether they are in working order or free from major faults or restoration. Although we endeavour to catalogue items in a fair and informed manner, omission of any comments or observations regarding the condition or originality of a clock in the description does not necessarily indicate that it is free from significant faults, restoration or is in working condition. We would strongly advise any prospective purchaser to view the item in person or request a condition report and/or further images prior to bidding. Measurements: dial measurements are given in inches, other dimensions such as height are given in centimetres and inches. The measurement given for the height of a longcase clock excludes any removable finials in order to provide an approximate minimum ceiling height in which the clock can be accommodated.

Please note: General opinion is that this clock is probably not by Thomas Cole. It is more likely to be attributed to E.W. Robins.