18th Century Bracket Clock by William Creak
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
18th century
This 18th-century bracket clock features an 18th-century movement by William Creak of London, housed within a case of later date. The timepiece stands 62cm high, surmounted by a brass carrying handle over a bell-top design adorned with four acorn finials.
The mahogany-finished case includes inset sound frets, glazed side observation windows, and block feet. Its 7-inch brass dial displays Roman and Arabic numerals, with a matted center featuring a countersunk, shaped cartouche signed "William Creek, London." Further dial features include a decorated calendar aperture, a strike/silent indicator in the break arch, and six cast brass spandrels. The double-fusee movement is constructed with five knopped pillars, a verge escapement, and a short bob pendulum.
It strikes the hour on an internal bell. The movement's backplate is decorated with engraved chinoiserie motifs and flowing scrolls, and the auction description reports that the trains are currently ticking and striking.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Bracket clock
- Maker
- William Creak
- Height
- 62cm
- Condition
- Ticking and striking
- Dial Size
- 7 inches
- Escapement
- Verge
- Movement Type
- Double-fusee
- Place recorded
- London, England
- Maker / attribution
- William Creak
- Backplate Decoration
- Chinoiserie motifs
Design
- Case and Dial
- The clock is housed in a wooden case of later date, which is surmounted by a brass carrying handle. The top follows a bell-top profile and is decorated with four acorn finials positioned above a moulded top section. The case front features inset sound frets, while the sides are fitted with glazed observation windows, allowing view into the movement. The structure sits on a moulded base raised on block feet. The 7-inch brass dial is designed with both Roman and Arabic numerals. The matted center houses a countersunk cartouche signed "William Creek, London" alongside a shaped calendar aperture. The dial is bordered by six cast brass spandrels, and the break arch features a strike/silent indicator for managing the clock’s audible output.
- Visible features
- • Case features brass carrying handle and acorn finials • Dial includes a strike/silent indicator in the break arch • Backplate contains engraved chinoiserie and scrollwork details • Calendar aperture is located within the center of the brass dial
- Movement and Escapement
- The internal mechanism is an 18th-century double-fusee movement, which is held together by five knopped pillars. It utilizes a verge escapement paired with a short bob pendulum to regulate timekeeping. The clock provides an hourly strike function, utilizing a bell mounted above the movement plate to produce sound. The backplate of the movement is decorated with fine engraving, featuring flowing scroll patterns and chinoiserie motifs. According to the auction report, both the timekeeping and striking trains are operational.
- Provenance and Authenticity
- The auction records indicate that this object consists of a historical movement paired with a later-dated case. The movement is attributed to William Creak of London. The spelling of the signature on the dial cartouche is noted as "William Creek, London," which varies slightly from the attribution provided in the auction description. The object is part of the property of a distinguished private collector.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Case is noted as being of later construction than the movement
- Research required: The dial signature spelling 'Creek' differs from the source's attribution to 'Creak'