Late 19th Century Fusée Bracket Clock
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1880
This late 19th-century bracket clock, dated circa 1880, is of English manufacture. It is constructed with an oak skeleton featuring a figured walnut veneer, topped with a pagoda-style arch and a gilded floral finial.
The front door is adorned with gilded bronze caryatids, while the sides feature pierced gilded bronze panels. The base rests on gilded bronze feet with acanthus leaf decorative strips. The clock utilizes an eight-day, two-train chain-driven fusée movement that strikes on a coiled gong. The five-inch dial includes a silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals, blued steel hands, and gilded bronze spandrels. A subsidiary dial at the top allows for Strike/Silent selection.
The clock stands 36 cm high, 24 cm wide, and 18 cm deep. According to the auction description, the item has been recently serviced and is in working condition, accompanied by door and winding keys.
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 1880
- Type
- Bracket clock
- Maker
- English
- Dimensions
- 36 x 24 x 18 cm
- Dial diameter
- 5 inches
- Movement type
- 8-day fusee
- Case materials
- Oak skeleton with walnut veneer
- Place recorded
- England
- Striking mechanism
- Coiled gong
Design
- Visible features
- • Silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals • Gilded bronze caryatids on the door frame • Strike/Silent subsidiary dial located above the main dial • Pagoda-style top with a floral finial
- Dial and Timekeeping
- The five-inch dial is centered by a silvered chapter ring featuring Roman numerals and a minute track with five-minute markers. The time is displayed via blued steel hands. Decorative gilded bronze spandrels occupy the corners of the dial plate. Operational controls include a subsidiary dial situated above the main clock face, providing a mechanism for switching between strike and silent modes. The timekeeping is managed by an eight-day, two-train chain fusée movement, which strikes on a coiled gong.
- Case and Exterior Design
- The clock features an oak frame finished with figured walnut veneer. The top displays a pagoda-shaped roof, accented by a gilded floral finial. The structural design incorporates gilded bronze elements, including decorative caryatids flanking the front door and pierced bronze panels on the sides. The base is designed with an emphasis on decorative detail, featuring acanthus leaf patterns. The unit stands on molded gilded bronze feet. The auction description notes that the gilt finish on all cast bronze components is original.
- Condition and Attribution
- The auction description reports that the clock has been fully serviced and reviewed. It is confirmed to be in working order and is supplied with the necessary winding and door keys. The piece is attributed to England and dated to approximately 1880. The source provides specific guidance for collectors, recommending an independent evaluation regarding the integrity of the fusée system chains or wires, the authenticity of the gilding on the bronze elements, and the operational reliability of the striking mechanism.
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: Originality of the gilded bronze finish and chain/wire fusée system to be independently assessed
- Research required: Functional status of the strike mechanism and strike/silent lever to be independently assessed