A FINE GEORGE III MAHOGANY QUARTER-CHIMING EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCK WITH MOONPHASE

A FINE GEORGE III MAHOGANY QUARTER-CHIMING EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCK WITH MOONPHASETHOMAS WAGSTAFFE, LONDON, CIRCA 1770The substantial six pillar triple train movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, sounding the quarters on a graduated nest of eight bells and striking the hour on a further larger bell, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with calendar aperture and subsidiary seconds to the silvered centre within conforming applied Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minutes to outer track, with scroll-pierced steel hands and applied rococo scroll cast spandrels to angles, the arch with rolling moonphase incorporating engraved age-of-the-moon scale to the circumference of the lunar disc over lunettes engraved as terrestrial globes beneath signature Thomas Wagstaffe, London to upper margin, the figured mahogany case with concave-sided 'pagoda' superstructure fronted with a shaped foliate pierced fret over break-arch cavetto cornice and brass stop-fluted columns flanking the hinged glazed dial aperture, the sides with rectangular scroll-pierced sound frets and conforming quarter columns set against bargeboards at the rear, the trunk with shaped 'block-top' door fronted with flame figured veneers within complex mouldings flanked by brass stop-fluted quarter columns, the plinth base with concave top moulding over applied shaped panel to fascia, on moulded double skirt incorporating shaped apron to lower margin and squab feet.243cm (95.75ins) high, 56cm (22ins) wide, 26cm (10.25ins) deep. Thomas Wagstaffe is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working from Carey Street and Grace-Church Street, London 1756-93. Wagstaffe was a devout Quaker with strong ties with his brethren in Philadelphia, U.S.A. He is known to have supplied movements and dials for casing locally in Philadelphia with examples noted in Moore, George and James, Arthur Thomas Wagstaffe, Quaker Clockmaker published in the December 1976 issue of the 'National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors Bulletin' (pages 534-35). Condition Report: Movement is in fine clean working condition and is fundamentally original with the only noticeable detail being that the strike train was once converted to sound on a gong screwed to the case backboard. It has since been converted back however there are two spare threaded holes (next to the quarter train barrel pivot) and a part-round circular cut-out to the edge at the hour hammer pivot. The mechanism otherwise appears to be all-original with no other evidence of alteration or with noticeable replacements. The dial is in fine original condition with some slight mellowing to the silvering and old lacquer surface to the brass. There are no discernible losses to the painted lunar disc. The movement rests on an old but non-original seatboard onto cheek uprights of the case which have received some slight cutting back/levelling. With this detail in mind we cannot confirm whether the movement and dial are original to the case however as the fitment of an hour gong conversion is evidenced in both the movement and case it would appear that they have been together for a long time. This coupe with the fact that they are both a very good match in quality, age and fit suggests that they have always ben together.The case is in fine original condition and of good colour with notable faults limited to a slight warp to the trunk door causing the top and lower left-hand corner to project forward by around 6-7mm respectively. Faults to the case are otherwise very much limited to minor bumps, scuffs, shrinkage and other age-related blemishes. The trunk door lock and hinges are original.Clock is complete with pendulum, three brass-cased weights, winder and two case keys. Condition Report Disclaimer