Full details of each lot are displayed, except the lot number, estimate and price. You must be a subscriber to view lot numbers, estimates and prices.
A George II musical organ bracket clock, Charles clay, London,…
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
25-Jun-2018
Lot No.
***
Description:
A George II musical organ bracket clock, Charles Clay, London, circa 1735, the large mahogany bell topped case with five gilt brass urn finials at each corner of the case and one located centrally on small reeded plinth. The case with full length pierced side frets with a pair of pierced gilt brass sound frets to the top corners of arched front door. Stop fluted front corners to full high door. Moulded vase supported on gilt brass feet. The arched painted dial with allegorical scenes and automotive figures operated by movement. A smaller break arch, silver framed dial located centrally in the painted dial. The clock with Roman and Arabic chapter ring framed by silver mounts and pierced door spandrels. Above the chapter ring are two subsidiary dials for rise and fall regulation and pendulum lock. Below centre arbour a curved calendar aperture, engraved day disc in arch. The two train eight day fusee movement with verge escapement and hour, bell striking. The organ plays on seventeen oak stopped pipes plus seventeen octave stopped pipes and seventeen shaded. The organ with 20.8 cm diameter wooden barrel, 30.5 cm long and plays nine tunes. Movement with one speed regulator to the movement and three stop selector slides, 109 cm high, 60.8 cm wide, 46 cm deep. Provenance: Purchased from 'Barometers, Fine Clocks & Watches, Christie's, London, October 7th 1981, lot 98, Literature: for articles relating to clay's works, please see: country life, 'Musical clocks by Charles clay', April 21, 1950, Clocks magazine, 'Horological Amphibians', December 1981, pages 22-23, the Charles Clay musical clock, Tyron Palace fall 2010, pages 6-10, country life, 'The Ingenious Mr Clay', December 31, 1948, pages 1378 & 1379. Other Notes: Charles Clay, born Flockton, Yorkshire, at the end of the 17th century, established in London by 1720 and clockmaker to His Majesty's Board of Works from 1723 to his death in 1740. In 1716 he petitioned Parliament unsuccessfully for a patent on a repeating watch mechanism but was opposed by Daniel Quare who was supported by the London clock-makers' Company. In May 1736 clay exhibited a musical clock to the King and Queen of England, and Queen Charlotte was sufficiently impressed to order 50 guineas to be spent on tickets for the impending raffle for the clock.
Estimate:
***
Price:
***
Category:
Horology (Clocks & watches): Clocks - Bracket