A fine George I period spring driven ebony-veneered bracket clock of rare small size. The 5 x 7 ins break arch brass dial is mounted with a silvered chapter ring and crown and sceptre spandrels to the four corners. The centre has a dummy pendulum aperture and is finely matted with pierced and faceted blue steeled hands. There is also a date aperture above VI. The maker’s signature R: Street is inscribed in the arch below the subsidiary strike/silent dial.

The fully restored verge movement runs for 8 days and has hour strike. There is also pull repeat for sounding the hours and quarters on six bells. The backplate is beautifully engraved with birds, flowers and foliage and is signed by the maker Richard Street, London in an oval wheatear reserve.

The elegant small inverted bell top oak case, veneered with ebony, stands only 13 ½ inches high and is in the typical style of the period. It is surmounted by a brass knopped carrying handle and has finely carved ebony sound frets to the front and back quadrants.

Height: 14 ½ in (37 cm) including handle
Height: 13 ½ in (34 cm) excluding handle
Width: 7 ½ in (19 cm)
Depth: 5 ¾ in (14.5 cm)

* Richard Street was a watchmaker, who was made a Free Brother in the Clockmakers’ Company in 1687. He is associated with Tompion, for whom he is believed to have made watches and clocks. Street is famous for the longcase clock commissioned by Isaac Newton in 1708 for Trinity College Cambridge Observatory which shows seconds in the arch, perhaps the first use of this feature. He is listed on page 461 in Brian Loomes’ Clockmakers of Britain: 1286 – 1700.

HW6125