M C Taylor Clocks

Description

This superb, imposing table clock was made as a statement to be seen, in all of its glorious splendour.

The very substantial, regulator quality, 5 pillar, double gut fusee movement with a Graham Dead-beat escapement and a half seconds beating pendulum. Also having rack and jumper starwheel striking the hours on a top-mounted bell, pull repeating of the hours, strike/silent select, a fully engraved backplate in floral Rococo style and an engraved and lenticular pendulum bob with a slender rod.

Behind a finely executed and attractive, 8 inches wide, break-arch brass dial. The dialplate, chapter rings and date ring are all silvered and wax-filled engraved. The arch has the strike/silent selector chapter with a shaped, blued steel selection hand. The main chapter ring is narrow and has outer Arabic 5's, a divided minute track with triangular hour marks and encompasses the Roman hour numerals. The dial centre has a subsidiary seconds dial with a divided track, Arabic quarters and a finely cut, counterpoised, blued steel hand. The lower area is signed with the makers names "GRAWEIL & TOLKIEN, LONDON" (Graweil being an alternative spelling for Gravell). Below this is a square, chamfered, calendar date aperture. The 4 dial corners and the arch flanks have cast and gilded brass, Rococo style spandrels. The main blued steel, pierced hands are perfectly executed.

Contained in a substantial and superior mahogany case covered in the finest flame mahogany veneer that follows the same grain wherever possible and perfectly laid. The break-arch top has 4 corner plinths bearing solid brass elaborated ball finials and also has a returned, double moulding to all 4 sides that conforms to the arches. The case front has a full-size locking and glazed break-arch door with a quadrant brass frame to the glass. It is flanked with concave edging that carry acanthus leaf applications to the top and bottom. The base has a canted frieze over a large Ogee moulding and a short plinth. These features are repeated to all 4 sides of the case except for the rear door not having the brass frame around the glazing. The case sides have cast and gilded brass swinging carrying handles. These are over arched sound apertures with cloth-backed, cast and gilded brass frets. Finally, the case sits upon 4 large cast and gilded brass, scrolled acanthus feet.

Gravell & Tolkien were a renowned London based partnership that operated between 1792 and 1820. They in fact, succeeded the famous clockmaker Eardley Norton and operated from St. John Street. They were known for producing high quality and often complex timepieces. William Tolkien is believed to be the Great grandfather of J.R.R. Tolkien, the famous author.