A George III mahogany bracket clock by Joseph Jennings
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
fourth quarter 18th century
According to Bonhams, this George III mahogany bracket clock was made by Joseph Jennings of London in the fourth quarter of the 18th century. The clock case stands 22 inches (56 cm) high and features an inverted bell top with a brass carrying handle, glazed sides, a glazed panel door, and brass ogee bracket feet.
Its arched brass dial includes Roman hours, Arabic five-minute divisions, ornate cast spandrels, a subsidiary strike/silent dial in the arch, a mock pendulum aperture, and a square date aperture. The auction catalogue reports an internal twin-train fusee movement with verge escapement, pull repeat mechanism striking on a bell, and an engraved backplate.
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
- Date
- fourth quarter 18th century
- Type
- Bracket clock
- Maker
- Joseph Jennings, London
- Height
- 22in (56cm)
- Movement
- Twin train fusee movement with verge escapement and pull repeat striking on a bell
- Backplate
- Well engraved backplate
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Joseph Jennings
Design
- Visible features
- • Inverted bell-top mahogany case surmounted by a brass carrying handle and small spherical brass finials • Arched front glass door displaying an arched brass dial with cast spandrels • Main chapter ring with Roman hour numerals and Arabic five-minute numerals, centered by winding arbors, a mock pendulum slit, and a square calendar aperture • Upper arch houses a subsidiary Strike/Silent dial • Side of the case features an upper circular glazed window and lower rectangular glazed window • Clock base rests on four brass ogee bracket feet
- Attribution and Provenance
- The bracket clock is attributed by the auction house to Joseph Jennings of London, assigned to the fourth quarter of the 18th century during the George III period. The lot was offered as property from a private California collection at Bonhams Los Angeles on 12 June 2012, achieving a realized price of US$3,750 including buyer's premium.
- Case Architecture and Form
- The clock case is constructed in mahogany and stands 22 inches (56 cm) high. It features an inverted bell-top profile surmounted by a carrying handle, with visible observations noting spherical brass finials and a brass handle. The front is enclosed by a glazed panel door and the sides are glazed, with observations noting an upper circular glazed window and lower rectangular glazed window on the side. The case terminates at the base on brass ogee bracket feet, supporting the rectangular molded base.
- Dial Composition and Features
- The front door reveals an arched brass dial plate mounted with cast corner and arch spandrels. Time is marked on the primary chapter ring using Roman hours and Arabic five-minute numerals. The center of the dial features a matte finish and contains a mock pendulum aperture, a square calendar aperture, and winding arbors. Above the main chapter ring, the arch incorporates a subsidiary strike/silent dial.
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: Internal twin-train fusee movement, verge escapement, bell, and engraved backplate are obscured inside the case and rely entirely on source reporting