Ganthony, 83 Cheapside, London

Circa 1842

Sold

9 inches high (over handle)

A very rare presentation mantel clock with balance wheel escapement. Case Of arched rectangular form with 8 flat columns each intricately engraved with scrolling foliage and each column raised on 8 concave moulded individual feet; between the front columns are engraved 2 female saints and at the base is engraved WE TOOK SWEET COUNSEL TOGETHER AND WALKED IN THE HOUSE OF GOD AS FRIENDS and in the arched pediment at the top of the case is further engraved F.I.F. OB VIII MAII A.D. MDCCCXI.II, the back of the case is entirely engraved with foliage centred by a door engraved with the dedication Presented in compliance with the wish of Mrs. Frances James Freshfield in a testimony of affection to her niece The Viscountess Valentia by her sorrowing husband 1842. Dial The silver dial is engraved in the centre with the arms of the Valentia family with Roman numerals and blued steel fleurs de lys hands within an elaborate foliate-engraved mask engraved with an urn above and below a seated mother with her 2 children on either side. Movement Of individual construction with substantial brass plates and four tapered columns, chain fusee with maintaining power and spring barrel, high quality lever escapement with cut bimetallic balance; the backplate signed Ganthony 83 Cheapside London and with engraved wind and set hands instructions around each steel square. Provenance This extraordinarily well made and highly individual clock was a gift ‘in memoriam' from a loving aunt to her niece in 1843. The aunt was Frances Freshfield the second wife of William Freshfield the founding partner of the eponymous and famous law firm Freshfields (Bruckhaus Deringer). Frances died in 1843 and as per the engraving her wish was for her husband to gift this clock to her niece Frances Annesley Viscountess Valentia (d.1856). There are no existing portraits of Viscountess Valentia or Frances Freshfield, but we did manage to find one of James Freshfield (1774-1864) who married Frances (his second wife) in 1821 – neither marriage yielded any children, which may account for her fondness for her niece and her children touchingly engraved on the front of the clock beneath the dial.