Justin Vulliamy George III Table Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
Circa 1765
According to dealer Tobias Birch, this small George III table clock dates to circa 1765 and is signed by clockmaker Justin Vulliamy of London. The case is constructed from ebonised fruitwood on oak with an inverted bell top, brass carrying handle, and brass block feet.
The rear view shows an open glazed door exposing a brass backplate engraved with floral flourishes and signed 'Justn Vulliamy London' within an oval cartouche. The movement features a bell, striking hammer, drop-down pendulum holdfast, and verge escapement reported by the source.
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
- Table clock
- Height
- 14 inches (35.5 cm)
- Escapement
- Verge escapement
- Provenance
- David G. Vulliamy collection
- Case material
- Ebonised fruitwood on oak
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
- Striking mechanism
- Hours on a bell
- Maker / attribution
- Justin Vulliamy
Design
- Visible features
- • Open rear glazed door showing an engraved brass backplate signed 'Justn Vulliamy London' within an oval cartouche. • A polished brass bob pendulum with a suspension rod centered over the backplate and secured near the base. • A bell positioned above the movement plates with a visible striking hammer arm. • Brass carrying handle mounted atop the ebonised inverted bell top case. • Brass bracket brackets securing the movement to the case sides, and brass block feet under the plinth base.
- Identity and Provenance
- Described by dealer Tobias Birch as a fine, small George III table clock dating to circa 1765, the timepiece is attributed to clockmaker Justin Vulliamy of London. The backplate features an engraved signature recorded in the source as "Just' Vulliamy London". According to the source documentation, the clock was owned for thirty years by David G. Vulliamy. The dealer states that it was illustrated in his publication, Vulliamy Clockmakers, on page 11, figure 4.
- Reported Movement and Front Dial Attributes
- The movement is described by the dealer as a substantial five-pillar movement with verge escapement, striking the hours on a bell, and fitted with a drop-down pendulum holdfast. These internal wheelwork details and escapement configuration are not directly visible behind the backplate in the rear image. The front dial is not shown in the available photograph but is reported by the source as a break-arch brass dial with pierced blued steel hands and a main enamel chapter ring with Roman hour numerals and Arabic minute numerals enclosed by rococo spandrels. The arch is described as having enamel subsidiary chapters for rise-and-fall pendulum adjustment and strike/silent, flanked by a maker signature recorded as "Just' Vulliamy, London".
- Case Construction and Observed Rear Features
- The case is described by the source as ebonised fruitwood on oak featuring a shallow inverted bell top, a brass carrying handle, sound frets, fine mouldings surrounding glazed apertures, and brass block feet. Observation of the provided rear-aspect image shows an open rear glazed door revealing an engraved brass backplate signed within an oval cartouche. A polished brass bob pendulum with a suspension rod is visible centered over the plate, with a drop-down pendulum holdfast, movement-securing brass brackets, and a bell mounted at the top with an adjacent hammer arm.
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 front break-arch enamel dial, pierced blued steel hands, and sound frets are reported by the source but not visible in this rear-aspect image.
- Research required: Internal wheelwork, verge escapement, and five-pillar configuration are largely hidden behind the engraved backplate.