No.127.

31557C.L
JUSTIN VULLIAMY, LONDON, No 172. A FINE QUALITY MAHOGANY LONGCASE CLOCK IN AN ARCHITECTURAL CASE. CIRCA 1785.

An extremely elegant mahogany longcase clock by this eminent maker. The architectural style case has strong mouldings to the roof top and well chosen veneers in and below that moulding. The hood has reeded columns with fine brass inlay at the bottom edges. The trunk door again has strong mouldings and well chosen flame veneers and the trunk itself has brass inlaid reeded columns. The base has a flame veneered panel with a double footed plinth and stands on four small moulded feet. The whole case is fantastically original with minimal restoration.

The silvered brass dial with seconds ring below 12 o’clock and a date aperture above 6 o’clock has Roman numerals with Arabic repeat numerals on the outside. It is signed for the maker " Vulliamy, London."in a bold flowing style. It has blued steel hands in a most unusual style. There is a strike/no strike lever in the top of the dial.

The two train eight day bell striking movement has an anchor escapement and five nicely ringed pillars. The thickness of the plates and quality of the movement is superior to most longcase clocks of that date as one would expect from such a fine maker. It is stamped no 172 on the top edge of the plates. The ebonised wood rod pendulum of diamond/lozenge section has a heavy brass bob at the end and an adjustable calibrated rating nut. The back of the bob is numbered 172. This form of pendulum was again used consistently by Vulliamy throughout the production period of these architectural longcases.

Height: 7' 2" (218 cms.)

Justin Vulliamy.
The origins of the Vulliamy family can be traced back to the 12^th century when they were living in Oulens in Switzerland and more can be read about this in David G Vulliamy’s book: however the first clockmaker of that name, who was to found one of the most famous dynasties in English clockmaking, was Francois Justin Vulliamy, who appears to have dropped the Francois at an early stage.

It is believed that Justin spent his early years in Paris as a watchmaker and indeed may have served his apprenticeship there. It is not known exactly when he came to England but was known in London by 1739. He obviously had great ability as it was not to be long before he attracted the attention of Benjamin Gray, an eminent watchmaker who gained the royal appointment in 1742. One year prior to this Vulliamy had married Gray’s daughter Mary.

Vulliamy would have taken an increasingly active part in the running of the business and finally took over when Gray died in 1764. By then, in part at least because of Gray’s royal appointment, the business had access to the palaces and had acquired many other important customers. Thus although there is no evidence that Vulliamy was ever a royal clock or watchmaker, it probably had little effect on him, particularly as by then they were situated in the prestigious area of Pall Mall, close to St James Palace & Carlton House.