Mahogany regulator clock by Sir James Clark
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
19th century
This 19th-century Scottish regulator clock is constructed from mahogany and features a silvered dial with Arabic numerals and two subsidiary dials. The longcase design includes a glazed door embellished with fret-carved scrolling foliate decoration, resting upon a panelled plinth base with bracket feet.
The movement is visible through the upper glazed section of the case. A scratched inscription on the object reads, "Made by Dr James Clark, MD.FRCS.EDIN." Measuring approximately 47 cm in width, 30 cm in depth, and 177 cm in height, the clock displays a traditional regulator format. The provenance and construction details provided in the source link the signature to Sir James Clark (1788-1870), a physician who was educated at Aberdeen University and later at the University of Edinburgh, eventually serving as physician to the British monarchy during the 19th century.
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
- 19th century
- Type
- Regulator clock
- Maker
- Sir James Clark
- Origin
- Scottish
- Dimensions
- 47cm wide 30cm deep 177cm high
- Inscription
- Made by Dr James Clark, MD.FRCS.EDIN
- Place recorded
- Scotland
- Maker / attribution
- Sir James Clark
Design
- Maker Identity
- Records from the National Archives associate the name on the clock with Sir James Clark, a prominent 19th-century medical figure born in 1788. Clark was educated in Aberdeen and Edinburgh before embarking on a medical career that included service to the British Royal family. He served as physician to the Duchess of Kent, Princess Victoria, and subsequently as physician in ordinary to Queen Victoria after her accession in 1837.
- Visible features
- • Silvered dial with Arabic numerals and two subsidiary dials • Fret-carved scrolling foliate decoration above the glazed door • Visible brass movement with barrels and escapement components • Panelled plinth base with bracket feet
- Case Construction
- The clock is housed in a mahogany case. The design incorporates a full-length glazed door, which provides a view of the pendulum and internal mechanisms. The woodwork features specific decorative detailing, notably the fret-carved scrolling foliate motifs situated above the glazed section. The lower portion of the clock is supported by a panelled plinth base that stands on bracket feet.
- Dial and Inscription
- The timepiece features a silvered dial, which is marked with Arabic numerals. It includes two subsidiary dials for additional timekeeping information. A scratched inscription is present on the clock, providing the identity of the maker as Dr. James Clark. The inscription explicitly references his medical qualifications, specifically listing his status as an MD and FRCS (Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons) of Edinburgh.
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 source links the clock to a medical doctor, but it is not explicitly documented that he was the professional clockmaker rather than an amateur
- Research required: The precise decade of manufacture within the 19th century is not stated