George Norton, Ipswich

Circa 1790

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A fine mahogany striking table clock with verge escapement. Case The mahogany-veneered oak case has a tall concave bell-top moulding flanked by four pineapple finials and surmounted by a brass handle, foliate quarter frets and brass escutcheon to the brass-lines front door, glazed sides, moulded base on brass bracket feet. Dial The break arch brass dial is signed Norton Ipswich on the foliate engraved silvered centre with mock pendulum aperture, blued steel hands and Roman & Arabic chapter ring, foliate spandrels and strike/silent ring in the arch with blued steel hand. Movement The movement with five baluster pillars with spring barrels and twin chain fusees, hour strike and trip repeat on a bell, the going train with verge escapement, pendulum holdfast to the backplate which is beautifully engraved with a basket of flowers and further scrolling foliage, brass movement securing brackets to the case George Norton was a clockmaker in Brook Street and later Cornhill in Ipswich, county of Norfolk. He is recorded as only working as a clockmaker between 1790 to 1795 when he declared bankrupt. Judging by the excellent quality of this clock one has to assume that it was almost certainly London-made and then retailed by George Norton in Ipswich.