Arnold & Frodsham Rosewood Giant Carriage Clock with Chronometer Escapement
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1855
This mid-19th-century giant carriage clock is attributed to Arnold & Frodsham, London, and features a rosewood-veneered case mounted on compressed gilt ball feet.
Its molded top and fluted band are complemented by a heavy gilt carrying handle and beveled glass panels, including an aperture over the escapement. The gilt square dial is richly engraved with foliate scrolls and marked with Roman numerals, traversed by blued steel hands with open heart tips. According to the auction catalog, the two-train, five-pillar fusee movement features Harrison's maintaining power, Earnshaw's spring detent escapement, a free-sprung cut bimetallic balance, and a helical balance spring, striking and repeating on a blued steel gong.
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
- Carriage clock
- Balance
- Freesprung cut bimetallic balance and helical balance spring
- Dimensions
- 10.75in x 7in x 6.5in
- Escapement
- Earnshaw's spring detent escapement
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Arnold & Frodsham
- Back Plate Signature
- Arnold Chas. Frodsham 84 Strand London 751
- Movement Construction
- Five pillar, two train fusee movement with Harrison's maintaining power
Design
- Visible features
- • Square gilt dial ornately engraved with dense foliate scrollwork and Roman numerals. • Blued steel hands terminating in open heart motif tips. • Substantial gilt-brass folding handle mounted above a fluted frieze and beveled top glass. • Rosewood veneered case resting on four compressed gilt ball feet. • Small adjustment lever visible protruding from the upper left side of the case.
- Mechanical Specifications
- The clock is powered by a five-pillar, two-train fusee movement. It incorporates Harrison's maintaining power and an Earnshaw's spring detent escapement. The regulation is achieved through a free-sprung cut bimetallic balance and a helical balance spring. The movement strikes the hour and half-hour on a large blued steel gong and includes a repeating function. The backplate is signed 'Arnold Chas. Frodsham 84 Strand London 751'.
- Condition and Observations
- The auction catalog reports the movement is dirty with thickened lubricants. Reported damage includes repaired splits to the veneer surrounding the dial and veneer repair and minor detachment on the rear door. The volume control mechanism is currently ineffective due to straightened hammer lifting pins. Additionally, there are minor losses to the blue finish on the gong.
- Case Construction and Design
- The giant carriage clock is presented in a rosewood-veneered case set on gilt compressed ball feet. The design includes a molded base, an ogee surbase, and a molded top situated above a narrow fluted band. The case features thick beveled glass on the front and sides, with an additional beveled glass aperture allowing for observation of the escapement. A substantial gilt handle is mounted at the top.
- Dial and Operational Features
- The dial is a gilt, square face ornamented with foliate scrolls and marked with Roman numerals. The clock uses blued steel hands with open heart-form ends. On the right side of the case, there is a lever provided for adjusting the volume of the striking mechanism.
Identification
- Serial number
- 751
- 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 movement, rear door, and backplate signature are not visible in the photograph.
- Research required: Condition report notes repaired veneer splits and an ineffective volume control mechanism.