George Clarke mid-18th century lacquered hooded wall clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
mid 18th century
This mid-18th-century lacquered hooded wall clock is signed by George Clarke of Leadenhall Street, London. The case features a pagoda-shaped hood surmounted by three urn-form finials, decorated with painted floral sprigs, garlands, and red and green borders with gilt door details.
The three-inch arched brass dial incorporates a silvered signature plaque flanked by floral spandrels, set above a silvered chapter ring engraved with numerals for the Turkish market, surrounding a matted center with scroll corner spandrels. The source reports a weight-driven plated movement with four knopped and turned pillars, a verge escapement, and an outside countwheel bell strike.
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
- Hooded wall clock
- Height
- 28 cm (11 inches)
- Movement
- Weight-driven plated movement with verge escapement and knopped pillars
- Case Design
- Pagoda-shaped hood with three urn finials and floral lacquer decoration
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Dial Description
- Three-inch arched brass dial with Turkish market chapter ring
- Maker and Location
- George Clarke, Leadenhall Street, London
- Maker / attribution
- George Clarke
Design
- Visible features
- • Three turned finials surmount the pagoda hood and flank the upper corners. • The arched dial features an engraved silvered signature plaque inscribed 'Geo Clarke / Leadenhall / Street London'. • The chapter ring displays Eastern Arabic/Ottoman numerals surrounding a textured matted center. • Multiple suspension lines hang beneath the shaped wall bracket, while the weight itself is not pictured.
- Dial and Inscriptions
- The dial consists of a three-inch arched brass plate. In the arch, a silvered plaque is inscribed 'Geo Clarke / Leadenhall / Street London', flanked by floral spandrels. Below the arch, a silvered chapter ring is engraved for the Turkish market with Eastern Arabic/Ottoman numerals. The chapter ring frames a textured matted centre, with scroll spandrels set in the lower corners of the dial plate.
- Case Form and Decorative Scheme
- The clock is housed in an 11-inch (28 cm) tall hooded case surmounted by a pagoda-form cresting. This upper section carries three urn-shaped finials positioned at the top and flanking the upper corners. The case surfaces are decorated with painted floral sprigs, running garlands, and red and green borders, accompanied by giltwork around the door surround. The case structure terminates at the base in a shaped wall bracket, from beneath which suspension cords hang in visible observations.
- Reported Movement and Evidentiary Boundaries
- The auction lot text reports a weight-driven plated movement constructed with four knopped and turned pillars and a verge escapement, featuring an outside countwheel strike on a bell. The lot also included a brass-covered weight. Because only the exterior front of the clock is pictured, the internal movement plates, pillars, escapement, bell-striking train, and brass-covered weight are not visually documented in the photograph. Mechanical completeness and operational condition are not recorded in this source.
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 weight-driven movement, knopped pillars, escapement, and striking mechanism are housed internally and not shown.
- Research required: The brass-covered weight cited in the source text is omitted from the photograph.