A Fine George III Period Mahogany Longcase Clock of Excellent Colour, Patination and Proportions, C. 1780-1790

Object Description

Surmounted with three ball and spike brass finials, the inverted bell top hood is decorated with a Greek key frieze below an ovolo moulding, supported by applied Doric hood columns, with brass capitals. The long trunk door is of break arch design and finely moulded, retaining original brass hinges and lock, sitting on its original base and bold moulded plinth.

The arched, one-piece silvered dial, superbly engraved with birds and foliate ornament, features subsidiary of five-pillar construction, with anchor escapement and brass encased weights. The pendulum with flat brass rod and unusually large bob.

The dial engraved: Thomas Fowle, East Grinstead.

It should be noted that the clock is of superb design, quality and has the most wonderful patinated surfaces.

Object History

Provenance: Private Oxfordshire collection

Object Literature

Thomas Fowle is recorded in the British Directory of 1791 for East Grinstead, East Sussex. Apparently, he came from a long-established family of clock makers. A longcase clock by Thomas Fowle, East Grinstead, circa 1710, is recorded in Herbert Cesinsky’s English Domestic Clocks (fig. 74, page 105)

Object Condition

Original

Object Details