Beschreibung:

A Victorian lacquered brass 'Litchfield Cathedral' hour striking skeleton clock with trip repeat Attributed to John Smith and Sons, London, for retail by Rhodes, Bradford, mid 19th century The twin chain fusee gong striking movement with anchor escapement and five spoke wheel crossings set between characteristic pierced plates united by six turned pillars and modelled as two towers capped with tall faceted spire finals flanking central arched aperture with further taller spire set to the rear, the front with pierced silvered Roman cartouche numeral chapter ring engraved RHODES BRADFORD to the lower margin, with shaped outer minute track and blued steel moon hands, on rectangular brass base plate, 33cm (13ins) high; mounted on original inlaid rosewood stand with symmetrical rococo scroll decoration within line borders to front, rounded angles and bell shaped feet, the upper surface cut with rebate for the original glass dome cover, 41cm (16.25ins) high overall. Manoah Rhodes and Son are recorded in Loomes, Brian Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in Bradford 1837-66 and later. The current lot can be firmly attributed to John Smith and Sons of St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, and can be compared to the design published in their 1865 catalogue; a plate from which is reproduced in Royer-Collard, F.B. SKELETON CLOCKS on page 54. A very similar example (but with platform lever escapement) is also illustrated by Royer-Collard on page 57 - which he describes as an early model dating to around 1840. The firm of John Smith and Sons was established in 1780 and became one of the largest manufacturers of both domestic and public clocks throughout the 19th century and is still trading today but as a materials stockholder and broker having made their last clock in 1938. Condition report disclaimer