Table Clock
Category
Horology
Date
1760 - 1820
Materials
oak, mahogany, pine, silk, glass, brass, steel, silvered brass, bell-metal
Measurements
700 x 360 x 220 mm
Order this imageCollection
Killerton, Devon
NT 922105
Caption
This clock plays six different tunes which you can hear at 12noon and 3pm. Currently out of action 25/08/23 for conservation.
Summary
8-day English musical table clock in mahogany case, by Richard Gibson, London, c1790. Three train, five pillar fusee movement with verge escapement, bob pendulum and rack hour striking on a bell, with engraved backplate. The musical train plays six tunes with nine hammers on nine bells and has flirt-action release every three hours. The 8” engraved and silvered brass arched dial has Roman numerals and Arabic 5-minute markers. It is signed ‘Richd Gibson / LONDON’ in the plain dial centre. The arch is engraved with the six tunes: ‘Song / Jigg / Minuet / Hornpipe / Air / Jigg’. A straight hand is fixed above the 12 o’clock position for selecting the tune. The arched top mahogany case has an oak carcass and brass mounts. The top is surmounted by a domed cupola supported on six columns. The clock is of relatively low quality for a London clock of this type. The dial is of very thin brass and the brass castings for the movement are relatively poor with significant blow holes present in places. The under-dial striking work is mostly in brass which is highly unusual.
Full description
8-day English musical table clock in mahogany case, by Richard Gibson, London, c1790. Three train, five pillar fusee movement with verge escapement, bob pendulum and rack hour striking on a bell, with engraved backplate. The musical train plays six tunes with nine hammers on nine bells and has flirt-action release every three hours. The 8” engraved and silvered brass arched dial has Roman numerals and Arabic 5-minute markers. It is signed ‘Richd Gibson / LONDON’ in the plain dial centre. The arch is engraved with the six tunes: ‘Song / Jigg / Minuet / Hornpipe / Air / Jigg’. A straight hand is fixed above the 12 o’clock position for selecting the tune. The arched top mahogany case has an oak carcass and brass mounts. The top is surmounted by a domed cupola supported on six columns. The clock is of relatively low quality for a London clock of this type. The dial is of very thin brass and the brass castings for the movement are relatively poor with significant blow holes present in places. The under-dial striking work is mostly in brass which is highly unusual.
Provenance
Acland