A good William III period ebony and gilt mounted hour striking bracket clock.  

The 7 inch square dial is mounted with a silvered chapter ring and winged cherub spandrels to the four corners. The dial centre is matted with a chamfered and engraved date aperture above VI and it has finely pierced and facetted blued steel hands. There is a strike/silent lever by III and an opening between X and II for the dummy pendulum.

The verge movement with knife edge bob pendulum runs for 8 days and strikes the hours on a bell. There is also pull repeat-work for sounding the hours and quarters on 2 bells. The backplate which has a wheatear outer border is exquisitely engraved with scrolling foliage and bears the maker’s signature John Cotton London inside a central cartouche below the elaborately pierced and engraved raised backcock.

The oak case, which is veneered with ebony, stands only 12 ¾ inches tall on four brass bun feet. It has a shallow dome top which is surmounted by a double S scroll carrying handle and it has four gilt cast brass ball finials to each corner.

Height: 12 ¾  in (32.5 cm)

Width: 10 ¼ in (26 cm)

Depth: 6 ⅜ in (16 cm)

* John Cotton is recorded on page 176 of Brian Loomes’ Clockmakers of Britain 1286-1700 as being apprenticed in London in 1683 and a member of the Clockmakers Company from 1695-1697.

HW6019