Click here to enlarge picture

31058C.BR
CHARLES GEDDES, LONDON. MAHOGANY BELL TOP BRACKET CLOCK. DATED 1780.

A beautifully proportioned mahogany bell top bracket clock. The case with round and oblong glass apertures to the sides, nicely fretted sound apertures to the front door and standing on shallow wooden block feet. The mahogany with nice figuring to the bell top and to the front door.

The unusual dial with strike silent disc in the arch and a presentation signature dated 1855. The dial centre with calendar aperture above 6 o’clock and with the signature Charles Geddes, London 1780 on the polished brass surface.

The twin gut fusee movement with reconverted verge escapement striking the hours on a bell and with nicely engraved backplate.

This clock is somewhat of an enigma. There is no doubt that the movement, dial and case started life together, and although in very distressed condition the case was largely original. On first sight the clock is a typical London bell top bracket clock of the second half of the 18^th century. However, the maker, Charles Geddes, although trained and originally working in London, England, moved to Boston and then New York in the U.S.A in 1773. In 1776 he then moved to Halifax, Novia Scotia, where presumably this clock was made. This clock is presumably signed London in order to make it more saleable in his adopted country, although an alternative solution is that it was made in London, Nova Scotia. Unfortunately no record of where Charles Geddes worked in Nova Scotia has been forthcoming. The fact that this clock was made in Canada would explain some of the unusual features in the dial, for example, the lack of matting to the dial centre.

All in all an unusual and excellent clock.

Height to base of handle: 17.5" (44 cms.)

Price band: C