Ebonised bell top bracket clock by Joseph Lum
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1765
This ebonised bracket clock features a bell top case, measuring 51 cm in height including the handle. The clock houses a brass dial, 8-day movement which incorporates a verge escapement and strikes the hours on a single bell, with a pull repeat function.
The dial includes a silvered chapter ring, an aperture for the date, and two subsidiary dials in the arch for strike/silent and rise/fall. The maker's name, Joseph Lum, is inscribed on an applied disc at the top of the dial. The movement is fitted with a fully engraved backplate featuring floral swags. The ebonised case includes a curved bell top, a brass carrying handle, ebonised feet, and gilded frets on the front glazed door.
The object dates to approximately 1765 and has provenance from a private collection in the U.K.
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
- circa 1765
- Type
- Bracket clock
- Maker
- Joseph Lum
- Height
- 51 cm
- Functions
- Strike/silent and rise/fall
- Escapement
- Verge
- Provenance
- Private collection U.K.
- Movement type
- 8-day brass dial
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Maker / attribution
- Joseph Lum
Design
- Visible features
- • The dial arch features two subsidiary dials flanking the maker's signature disc. • The movement backplate is decorated with extensive floral engraving. • The clock case is finished in ebonised wood with a curved bell-top profile. • The clock face includes a date aperture positioned above the numeral VI.
- Case and Exterior
- The clock is housed in an ebonised case, which features a curved bell top profile and ebonised feet. The design includes a brass carrying handle mounted to the top of the case for portability. The front glazed door is decorated with gilded frets, which are visible in the product photography. The visual composition of the dial is marked by a brass centre, a silvered chapter ring, and ornate spandrels in the corners. The arch contains the maker's signature on an applied disc, flanked by two subsidiary dials designated for strike/silent and rise/fall adjustments. A date aperture is set into the main dial face above the numeral VI.
- Maker and History
- Joseph Lum is recorded as having initially set up a workshop in Chelmsford, Essex, during the early 18th century. He later relocated his business to London in 1745, where he continued to work until his death in 1770. The object is recorded with provenance from a private collection in the United Kingdom.
- Movement and Escapement
- The timekeeping is powered by an 8-day movement featuring a verge escapement. The mechanism strikes the hours on a single bell, with a pull repeat facility available for the user. The backplate of the movement is fully engraved, featuring floral swags. The assembly, as shown in the provided photography, includes the bell mechanism and the pendulum suspension.
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: The exact date of manufacture is cited as circa 1765, which is an estimation.
- Research required: The listing claims the movement has the original verge escapement.