A GEORGE III BLUE JAPANNED EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCK

A GEORGE III BLUE JAPANNED EIGHT-DAY LONGCASE CLOCKWilliam Hawkins, Bury St. Edmunds, circa 1770The five pillar rack and bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum, the 12 inch brass break-arch dial with subsidiary seconds ring, calendar aperture and shaped silvered signature plate engraved W'm Hawkins, St., Edmunds Bury to the finely matted centre within applied silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with Arabic five minute to outer track, with scroll pierced blued steel hands and mask and scroll cast spandrels to angles beneath arch centred with silvered STRIKE/SILENT selection ring flanked by dolphin cast mounts, in a case with pagoda pediment over cavetto cornice and three-quarter columns applied to the hinged glazed dial aperture, the sides with rectangular glazed windows and quarter columns applied against bargeboards to the rear, the trunk with concave throat moulding over break-arch door applied with half-round edge mouldings, on plinth base with cavetto top moulding and moulded skirt, the whole now re-decorated in polychrome and gilt with raised-work Chinoiserie scene to door within trellis borders and other foliate designs on to a deep blue ground throughout.209cm (89.5ins) high, 51cm (20ins) wide, 25.5cm (10ins) deep. A William Hawkins is recorded in Britten, F.J. Old Clocks and Watches & their Makers as working in Bury St. Edmunds from circa 1735.Condition Report: The movement is in clean working condition and there is no visible evidence of alteration or significant replacements. The bottom pillars are slightly bent due to the securing bolts (for attaching to the seatboard) being overtightened and the pendulum suspension hook has been extended. The dial has a small casting fault to the left hand edge of the arch (not visible when movement is in the case), otherwise dial is in good clean condition with faults limited to some light oxidation/discolouration to the silvering in places. The movement rests on an old (possibly original) oak seatboard which has been thinned slightly at each end rests on the uprights of the trunk (cheeks) which appear free from visible alteration. The thinning of the seatboard would have been done to 'fine tune' the position of the dial in its aperture which may have been required due to movement within the structure of the case or because the movement and dial are not original to the case.The case has been redecorated hence is in presentable condition with faults to the finish limited to minor bumps, scuffs, wear and a few very small losses to the gesso. The top of the backboard has at some point had the top three inches cut-off; a replacement section of timber has subsequently been attached. The trunk door lock is a replacement, the 'shrinkage clamps' that would have been applied to the upper and lower edges of the inside of the door are missing and the moulding to the lower edge is presently detached. The skirting around the base of the plinth is probably a replacement but is decorated to match the rest of the case.Clock has pendulum, two lead weights, a case key and a crank winder. Condition Report Disclaimer