Beschreibung:

Thomas Tompion London, number 222. The case Of Phase Two design and surmounted by a unique silver folding, facetted scrolled handle with foliate terminals mounted in a pair of pommels, the caddy top mounted to each of the four sides with pierced silver mounts depicting a central urn of flowers over a Green Man mask issuing floral swags, the whole central section framed by the profile figureheads of the Royal Supporters, the Lion and the Unicorn, the former with bared teeth and shaggy mane, the latter with upright horn, the cornice of silver and with an intricate profile over a silver lined front door (both doors with keys and brass locks). The sides set with a pair of matching pierced silver sound frets centred by a male mask within an elaborate symmetrical pattern of foliate scrolls, based on the designs of Daniel Marot enclosed by a silver moulded frame, on a silver-banded base set within moulded borders, the base banded in silver. The whole wooden section of the case is separate from the metal base and lifts off for access via a unique locking system. In order to gain entry to the movement, the front door has to be unlocked so that a lever below the VI position can be engaged. This releases a pierced brass boss below the case which in turn releases a pair of hinged levers locating into pins set in the sides of the case. The dial the visible dial plate measuring 79mm x 85mm (3 1/8ths of an inch x 3 5/16ths of an inch), set to the upper left hand corner with a silvered sector marked in single units 0-20 to activate the rise and fall regulation; the upper right hand corner with a matching sector marked S and N to select Strike or No Strike, both sectors with blued steel hands and engraved foliate decoration flanking the engraved signature Tho: Tompion, London, Fecit. The silvered chapter ring with outer Arabic minutes marked in fives and interspersed with engraved fleur- de lyse to denote the half-quarters, the Roman numerals enclosed by a minute band and with standing 'meeting arrow head' half hour markers, around a quarter hour track, the finely matted centre set to the upper half with a shaped aperture of individual design backed by a blued steel section to highlight the beating mock pendulum, the whole dial mounted with four silver mounts of unique design, with original blued steel hands. The dial plate measuring 80mm x 85mm and cast with a ridge along its upper edge to accommodate one of the three turned dial feet that latch to the front plate of the movement. The movement Of eight day duration and with twin chain-driven fusees. The plates measure 105mm x 84mm and are united by seven knopped and ringed pillars, with just 30mm between the plates, all seven pillars latched to the frontplate. The going train with verge escapement, the pendulum with steel rod and turned brass lenticular bob, suspended from a pivoted shaped brass bar, the open end secured by an engraved brass faceplate with a U-shaped terminal centred around a rotating eccentric steel endpiece to enable the bar to rise and fall to alter the length of the pendulum. The striking train sounding the hours on a bell mounted above the movement, the hammer with short steel shaft and shaped steel head. Some of the striking system, including the snail, are cut from thin steel sheet. The quarters are repeated on demand by pulling on either of the two cords that sit on each side of the case, each 15 minute interval past the current hour is represented by a single hammer blow on a bell mounted on the frontplate, behind the VI position. The two steel repeat levers are pivoted on the backplate, one on a post, the other with engraved straight footed cock. The backplate is signed in an oval palm frond cartouche 'Tho Tompion London fecit' within an elaborate symmetrical pattern of foliate scrolls and floral swags, engraved by Graver 155, with the very rare '?' flourish to the 'i', found only on one other clock. The clock is numbered 222 on along the lower edge, dating it to 1