MANTEL CLOCK IN THE MANNER OF THOMAS COLE Ca. 1850 England
M&R118b
MANTEL CLOCK IN THE MANNER OF THOMAS COLE
Circa 1850
England
Movement
The spring-driven, eight-day movement is constructed between plates and has an English lever escapement with hair-spring balance. The clock is wound from the back
Dial
The shaped silvered-brass dial is elaborately engraved, depicting floral, leaf and scroll motifs. It has a Roman chapter ring, with five-minute and minute divisions. The time is indicated by a pair of blued-steel fleur-de-lys hands. Above the middle is a subsidiary seconds ring with a blued-steel hand. The dial is surrounded elaborately shaped engraved gilt brass mask and is protected by a facetted glass.
Case
The gilt-brass case is elaborately engraved, depicting floral and scrolling leaf motifs. The plain rear shows a hatch which upon opening reveals the arbor to set the hands. There is also a slide to regulate the movement, facilitated by the word ‘slow’ and ‘fast’. The case is surmounted by a decorative shaped carrying handle.
Strut clocks and Thomas Cole The well known clock maker Thomas Cole developed this type of clock and his name is almost synonymous with it. Often the clocks made by him were sold by other makers or retailers. The earlier ones aren’t numbered or signed by him. Still this fine clock can be attributed to him. In the book on Cole by Hawkins an almost identical clock is shown. He states that the clocks with both horizontal and inclined struts are the earliest ones. These stand out by their high attention to detail and refined engraving. The latter clocks having more simple backs.
See J.B. Hawkins, Thomas Cole & Victorian clockmaking, pp.48 (item 2)
Duration 1 week
Height 15 cm.
Width 13.5 cm.
Depth 7 cm.
