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Circa 1775
Sold
13¾ inches high
A particularly fine and small three-train quarter chiming mahogany table clock. CASE The case has a brass handle to the brass-lined bell top flanked by four urn- and-flambeau finials. The sides are set with elaborately pierced and engraved brass sound frets whilst the dial is flanked by stop-chamfered reeded angles. The brass-bound base is raised on small brass bracket feet. DIAL The 4½ inch high brass dial is signed Wagstaff LONDON within the Roman and Arabic chapter ring with blued steel beetle-and-poked hands. Unusual Indian-mask spandrels to each corner and a strike/silent disc in the arch with a blued steel hand. MOVEMENT The 6 pillar movement has triple gut fusees and spring barrels, pivoted verge escapement, the quarters chime on 8 bells via 8 hammers whilst the hours are struck on a larger bell. Thomas Wagstaff 1756-1793, was a prominent clock and watchmaker who worked at 33 Gracechurch Street in London. Thomas and his brother James had particularly strong connections with the American market. This connection was probably inspired by his membership of the Quaker Society of Friends. There is also a well-documented surviving watch by Thomas Wagstaff that was owned by Benjamin Franklin. This particular clock is unusual for its lovely small proportions combined with a three train quarter chiming movement which had to be very carefully designed to fit into the confines of such a small case.