A fine small Tavern Timepiece with a white dial and gilt and chinoiserie lacquered case. The decoration to the trunk door is of two oriental figures chatting in front of various pavilions and trees. The trunk sides are filled with chrysanthemum sprays set within gilt lines. The gilt scrolling signature, Thos H Hunsdon, Chelmsford, is written below the dial between the well-shaped gilt ear pieces.

 The white round dial has a moulded and turned surround and has Roman numerals, single dots for the minutes circle and Arabic outside five minutes. The brass hands are well pierced and gilded with heart shaped tips. The weight driven 8-day movement has A shaped plates, a five wheel train with anchor escapement and a steel pendulum rod with brass faced bob.

Date: circa 1785-1790

Height: 44 in (112 cm)

Dial Width: 22 in (56 cm)

* Thomas Hunsdon is listed on page 402 of Brian Loomes’ Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World: 21^st Century Edition as working in Chelmsford between 1784 and 1798. Tavern clocks of small proportions are comparatively rare.

 HW6026