M C Taylor Clocks

Description

An exceptionally fine, beautiful and small table clock with a silvered dial by Alexander Purvis.

The 8 day duration, 5 knopped pillar, double gut fusee movement with Anchor Recoil escapement, rack and starwheel striking of the hours on a rear-mounted bell of good tone and shaped plates. Also having strike/silent selection, pendulum holdfast bracket, upper micrometer regulation to the substantial pendulum bob and the backplate carrying the maker's signature of "Purvis, North Audley St. London" in well executed engraved script.

Behind a 6 inch diameter, silvered brass dial with outer divided minute track, Roman hour numerals and exceptionally engraved maker's signature of "Purvis, North Audley St. London" above and below the dial centre. The strike/silent selector protrudes above the numeral XII and the finely cut, blued steel matching hands are 'open moon' in style.

Contained in a truly beautiful rosewood case of superb colour and figuring. The 2-tiered chamfer top carries a cast brass pineapple finial and the main trunk has a top Cavetto moulding above a short fluted frieze. The case front is squared around the cast brass locking bezel which has a bowed and bevelled 'snapped-in' glass. The chamfered side edges are inlaid with brass strip and the corners have brass inlay triangles with a central inlaid 4 leaf design. The lower panelled area to the case front has a rectangular brass inlay with a scrolled inlaid design within. Below this is a further short fluted frieze over a plain short skirt. The case sides have conforming mouldings and upper ringed cornucopia carrying handles above rectangular sound apertures with dark cloth-backed, cast brass, fishscale design frets. The case back has a full-size locking and glazed door and the case sits upon 4 cast brass 'ball-and-plate' feet.

Alexander Purvis is considered to be a fine maker. He was born in Kelso in the borders and worked from North Audley Street from 1828 until 1851.

There is no doubt that this is an exceptional clock and of smaller size. I have not seen a better example and aesthetically I consider it to be perfect. The colour, quality and proportions speak for themselves and the movement is 'unmolested' yet neglected - it will be a joy to restore! I state with confidence that this example is probably the best that money can buy.

If it is important to you to obtain the finest example possible of a certain clock, then this is the one for you.