A charming George III period Tavern Timepiece in a very well-preserved black and gilt chinoiserie lacquered case. The decoration to the trunk door is of two oriental figures chatting on steps in front of various pavilions and trees below two stylised birds. The trunk sides are filled with chrysanthemum sprays set within gilt lines. It retains its original gilt foliate decorated swan neck earpieces at the top of the trunk.

 The black round convex dial has a moulded turned surround. It has gilt Roman numerals, single dots for the minutes circle and Arabic outside five minute markers. The steel hands are well pierced and almost certainly original. 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 and old oblong lead weight.

Overall length: 54 in (137 cm)

Dial diameter: 24 in (61 cm)

* Thomas Smoult is recorded as working in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne and retiring in 1791. He was a member of a long family of clockmakers working in Lancaster and Newcastle. In more recent times the clock is reputed to have hung in Denham College, Oxford.

HW6386