No.123.

31535C.BR
WILLIAM MARTIN, BRISTOL. A RARE AND UNUSUAL BASKET TOPPED STRIKING BRACKET CLOCK IN A BURR YEW CASE WITH PULL QUARTER REPEAT ON SIX BELLS. CIRCA 1690.

A rare and unusual provincial bracket clock. The case with a beautifully chased gilded basket top has small finials in the top four corners. The yew veneers are very well chosen and highly figured. It has an opening front door with well cast escutcheons to both sides. It stands on four brass bun feet. The whole case has a wonderful patina.

The dial is most unusual. It has cherub head spandrels and a strike/no strike lever above 12 o’clock. The most unusual part of the dial is the chapter ring. This has a cut out at the bottom for the edge of the date aperture and at the top shaves the corners of the false pendulum aperture. At first sight it would appear to be wrong. However, if it is removed the original scribe marks for the chapter ring are there to be seen and it has repairer’s marks and other indications going right back to the early days of the clock.

The centre of the dial is well matted with ringed winding holes and a nicely shaped aperture for the false pendulum bob. The date aperture is surrounded by foliate engraving. The chapter ring itself has quarter hour divisions on its inner edge and elaborate half hour markers. The numerals are Roman with outer Arabic numerals. The hands are of blued steel and nicely chased, the hour hand being a complex pattern.

The backplate is beautifully engraved with scroll and foliate engraving and a cartouche in the centre with a signature for the maker, ‘William Martin, Bristol.’ It has an engraved border or edge.

The eight day striking and repeating movement has a reinstated verge escapement and the quarter striking work has been sympathetically reinstated using the original pivot holes. The quarter strike work has six separately mounted hammers striking on six bells, an early form of quarter striking. The clock strikes the hours on a further bell mounted above the plates. The movement is secured in the case with nicely shaped iron straps.

Height to base of handle: 15.5" (39.5 cms.)