The dial and movement signed James Leicester, Drury Lane, part late 18th century and later
Estimate: | £1,500 - £2,500 |
Hammer price: | £1,600 |
The bell-top case with knopped carrying handle above four urn finials and moulded pediment, with glazed panel door and inset pierced brass frets, the sides each with two glazed panels, on stepped base and brass bracket feet, the 7 ¼ in. arched brass dial with engraved outer edge, chime/silent subsidiary to the arch, above signature line, with silvered chapter ring and chime lever to the III, blued steel hands, the three train chain fusée movement with rectangular foliate engraved plates, later re-trained and fitted with a third train, chiming the quarters on eight bells and striking the hours on a larger bell, adaptions
50cm high
The movement appears originally to have been a twin train with pull quarter repeat but extensively rebuilt by the Victorians.
The plates appear original to Leicester’s work and have been totally re-trained and a third train added. The original fusée pivot holes, with engraved rose, are filled, together with many other original holes. The dial plate appears original and here again has been adapted; the original dial feet have been removed, but their original holes remain and correspond to filled holes on the front plate. The chime/silent ring is an obvious Victorian replacement, as is the matted centre and silvered chapter ring.