A fine early Victorian period rosewood 8-day hour-striking English four-glass mantel clock with beautifully engraved gilt dial and gong strike by this top London maker/retailer.

The case is veneered in richly figured rosewood and has a flat top with a rectangular glazed aperture, above a moulded cornice and a narrow dentil frieze. The front door is framed by a broad rosewood surround with mitred corners, enclosing the dial within a gilt sight edge. There are glazed side panels, and the stepped base has bold mouldings and stands on four brass bun feet. The clock is fitted with a substantial cast brass carrying handle to the top, with shaped foliate terminals.

The square gilt brass dial is signed Webster & Son, Cornhill, London beneath XII. It has a circular Roman chapter ring with minute markers between, and the centre and corner areas are filled with engraved scrolling foliate ornament. The clock retains its Breguet-style blued steel hands.

The two-train movement sounds the hours on a coiled gong mounted to the backplate. It has a platform lever escapement, with regulation marked Fast and Slow. The backplate is signed by the maker, Webster & Son, Cornhill, London.

Height: 9 in (23 cm) handle down

Width: 6 in (15.25 cm)

Depth 5 ½ in (14 cm)

*Webster & Son, Cornhill, London, was the trading name and address of the Webster family firm. Richard Webster is recorded by the British Museum as active from 1800 to 1849, at 43 Cornhill and 26 Change Alley, and as succeeded by his son Richard. The British Museum also records R Webster Junior & Co at 74 Cornhill from 1849, noting that father and son had previously been in partnership.

The firm was closely connected with the Clockmakers’ Company. Company records printed by Atkins and Overall show Richard Webster elected to the livery in 1810, later serving as Junior Warden in 1824 and Renter Warden in 1825. The Webster business itself was older, descending from William Webster of the Dial and Three Crowns, Change Alley, active 1727-1776.

Surviving work shows that Webster and Webster & Son were associated above all with high-grade watches and marine chronometers, though the Cornhill signature also appears on high quality domestic clocks.

HW6684