STRUT CLOCK: W. Vasel and by the retailer: Carrington & Company London Ca. 1880 England

M&R112

STRUT CLOCK
Signed: W. Vasel
and by the retailer: Carrington & Company London
Circa 1880
England

Movement
Brass movement with English lever escapement and adjustable hairspring balance. It is driven by a spring in a spring barrel.

Dial
The oval richly engraved and silvered brass dial has Roman numerals with triangles for the five minutes and strokes for the minutes. The dial is beautifully engraved in the centre in scroll motifs and a circle of baroque cartouches. The time is indicated by two blued steel hands with ‘fleur de lys’ motif. The whole is protected by a glass.

Case
The oval gilt brass case is richly engraved in flower and scrolling leaf motifs. The clock can be wound and set at the back. The strut at the back supports the clock. Here is an aperture giving access to the regulation. The clock can be hung on the engraved eye on top of the case if so desired. The signature W.V. (W. Vasel) is engraved on the back of the strut.

The Case
The original leather case is lined with cream silk and has two doors with a delicate clasp. The seller’s name is stamped on the inside: Carrington & Co, by appointment, 130 Regent Street London W, around the Royal Crown.

Duration 1 week

Height 14 cm.
Width 9 cm.

References
– B. Loomes, Watch & Clockmakers of the World, p. 136.
– D. Roberts, Carriage and other Travelling Clocks, pp. 278/279.

The Maker and Retailer
Although not mentioned in the usual sources, W. Vasel was known as a fine maker who worked from various addresses in London from 1881 to 1907. Vasel seemed to have specialised in continuing the production of high-quality decorative timepieces made popular by Thomas Cole. Thomas Cole died suddenly of typhoid in 1864, which undoubtedly left a ‘gap’ in the market for others to continue producing delicately made timepieces in his style.

Carrington & Company, jewellers and silversmiths, was founded in 1873 by John Bodman Carrington. They traded from 130 Regent Street, London and became a limited company in 1880. The firm was one of the leading silversmiths in London, with John Bodman Carrington being appointed Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company in 1902.