Object Description
A very fine mahogany Grandfather clock in the Chippendale taste with extremely rare movement, depicting the rise and fall of the tide.
This long case clock is in the Chippendale taste and probably manufactured by Gillows of Lancaster and London. The flame veneered mahogany case is highly carved with Gothic arches on the door above a floral roundel, corner columns and pendent bell-flowers on the cut corners, all enclosing an eight day, non-striking movement. The hood has two classical columns supporting urn finials flanking a double scroll pediment centred on a gadrooned urn, all above floral areabesques.
The arched silver dial incorporates a black and silver moon globe which revolves in conjunction with the waxing and waning of the moon. Beneath this, flanked by incised coastal scenes highlighted in black ink, is an openwork panel shaped to the contours of a coastal inlet, with awave-etched plate which rises and falls to reflect the state of the tide. Below this are three dials. The two smaller ones are marked for Noon, Evening, Night and Morning within a 24 hour dial in roman numerals and for High Water, Half Ebb, Low Water and Half Flood with a single hand. The largest dial has two blued steel hands and a brass calendar hand within 60 minute, 12 hour and 31 day rings all flanked by two stylized dolphins with arabesque tails.
English, c1900.