Beschreibung:

A fine early Victorian mahogany small library mantel timepiece Vulliamy, London, circa 1843 The substantial rectangular four pillar single fusee movement with half deadbeat escapement regulated by heavy disc bob pendulum suspended from typical typical wide-jaw backcock, the backplate signed VULLIAMY, LONDON over serial number 1645, the 4.5 inch circular silvered Roman numeral dial signed VULLIAMY, LONDON to centre and with blued steel moon hands, the rectangular case with shallow triangular pediment tablet over crisp cavetto cornice and full-width front door incorporating circular glazed dial aperture inset with a moulded silvered brass bezel, the rear with plain rectangular door, on skirt base with squab feet, 31cm (12.25ins) high. Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as born 1780 to Benjamin Vulliamy and gaining his freedom of the Clockmakers' Company in 1809. He worked from 52 Pall Mall, served as Warden 1821-5 and was appointed Master five times. He was the last of the celebrated dynasty of Royal clockmakers which started with his grandfather, Justin, forming a partnership with George II's clockmaker, Benjamin Gray Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy was perhaps one of the most influential horologists of his time publishing many works and undertaking numerous high profile public commissions as well as holding the Royal Warrant. He supplied many clocks to the Royal family including the turret clock for Windsor Castle in 1829 (replacing an earlier movement by Joseph Knibb ; however his horological legacy is perhaps somewhat slightly blighted by his tendency to undertake controversial alterations to earlier important clocks by makers such as Tompion. The Vulliamys started numbering most of their clocks from 1788 until 1854. Two of the original Vulliamy work books still survive in the library of the British Horological Institute at Upton Hall, these often can provide valuable information regarding the manufacture and provenance of many clocks made by the workshop. Unfortunately the records are incomplete hence only note clocks with serial numbers 296-469 and 746-1067, which means that the current lot, number 1645, remains unidentified. The restrained proportions of the current lot perhaps reflects the possibility that it may have been supplied for use in an office or meeting room. Indeed a third surviving Vulliamy workbook, relating only to repairs and servicing dating to the period 1846-53, records at least sixty five clocks being in the possession of the government ‘Office of Works’ and another forty being in the possession of Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace. Condition report disclaimer