James Snelling, London

Circa 1735

Sold

12 and 1/2 inches high

A very fine brass-mounted small ebonised striking table clock with pull quarter repeat on six bells, verge escapement, calendar, strike/silent and pendulum regulation. CASE The diminutive brass-bound case has excellent proportions, the inverted bell top is surmounted by a handle, the sides are glazed and the front door has pierced ebony sound frets and a brass escutcheon lock, the moulded base rests on brass pad feet DIAL The 5-inch brass dial is signed James Snelling London on a silvered plaque in the arch above a calendar aperture and flanked by silvered rings for strike/silent and pendulum regulation, the main silvered chapter ring has Roman and Arabic numerals with lozenge half hour markers and delicate blued steel hour and minute hands, the corners are applied with finely cast plumed foliate spandrels. MOVEMENT The fine quality five pillar movement has twin barrels and gut fusees, the strike train striking the hours on a larger bell above the plates with additional pull quarter repeat on a nest of 6 bells; the going train has a pivoted verge escapement with a lenticular bob pendulum which is suspended from the foliate engraved regulation bar; the backplate is finely engraved all over with geometric foliate engraving centred by a winged cherub head and with an engraved pendulum securing block and similarly engraved movement securing brackets.