An 18th century mahogany bracket clock with pull repeat and calendar function, Crane, Bromsgrove
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
18th century
According to the auction catalogue, this 18th-century mahogany bracket clock was made by Crane of Bromsgrove. The concave bell-top case is fitted with a cast brass carrying handle and four pineapple finials, glazed side panels, and moulded block feet, mounted on a matching pierced wall bracket.
The fully silvered arched dial displays Roman and Arabic numerals, pierced steel hands, a calendar aperture above VI, an engraved maker's cartouche below XII, and a strike/silent dial in the arch. Bonhams notes that the movement features twin gut fusees, five knopped pillars, a knife-edge verge escapement, and an engraved floral 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
- Type
- Bracket clock
- Maker
- Crane, Bromsgrove
- Dimensions
- 79 cm high with bracket, 53 cm without
- Escapement
- Knife-edge verge escapement
- Case Material
- Mahogany
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Dial Description
- Fully silvered arched Roman and Arabic dial with strike silent in the arch
- Movement Mechanism
- Twin gut fusee movement with five knopped pillars
- Maker / attribution
- Crane, Bromsgrove
Design
- Visible features
- • Arched mahogany case mounted on a matching pierced wooden wall bracket. • Concave bell top surmounted by a brass bail carrying handle. • Four small metal pineapple finials positioned on the corners of the upper moulding. • Silvered arched dial plate featuring Roman hours, an outer Arabic minute track, a calendar dial above VI, and a strike/silent ring in the arch. • Glazed arched side window providing a view into the movement chamber.
- Case Architecture and Mounting
- The clock is presented in an 18th-century mahogany case featuring a severely concave bell top surmounted by a cast brass handle and four small pineapple finials. The case is fitted with glazed sides as well as front and back doors, with upper quarter frets detailing the front door. It is supported by a moulded base resting on moulded block feet. The lot includes a pierced wall bracket. Total height is catalogued as 79 cm (31 inches) when mounted on the bracket, compared to 53 cm (20.5 inches) for the clock case alone.
- Movement and Reported Mechanics
- According to the auction catalogue, the movement features twin gut fusees, five knopped pillars, and a knife-edge verge escapement. The backplate is documented as having floral and urn engraving. The lot description notes pull repeat and calendar functions, two case keys, and that the clock was 'ticking' at cataloguing. Because internal movement details are not visible in the exterior photograph, their mechanical condition and assembly cannot be verified independently from this record.
- Dial Configuration and Inscription
- The arched dial plate is fully silvered, displaying Roman and Arabic numerals, engraved floral spandrels, and a subsidiary calendar ring positioned above the VI numeral. Time is indicated by skeletonised blued steel hands. Beneath the XII marker, a raised oval cartouche is engraved 'Crane' above an elaborately engraved 'Bromsgrove'. The upper arch contains a large strike/silent dial with a blued steel pointer.
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 mechanisms, gut fusees, knopped pillars, and the engraved backplate are not visible in the provided exterior photograph.
- Research required: Mechanical functioning is reported by the auctioneer ('ticking') but cannot be independently verified.