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31471C.S
T. & J. OLIVANT, MANCHESTER. AN ATTRACTIVE STRIKING SKELETON CLOCK WITH UNUSUAL BALANCE WHEEL ESCAPEMENT. CIRCA 1840.

A very attractive English skeleton clock. The plates of architectural form but with more rounded piercing and fretwork than is normal and this gives the clock an unusual and elegant style.

The two train chain fusee movement has wheelwork with six crossings throughout and has a large balance wheel lever escapement planted on the front of the clock above 12 o'clock and highly visible. The pallets of the escapement are jewelled and because of its size it makes the working of the escapement far more visible than would be normal with for example a lever escapement on a carriage clock.

The dial is nicely fretted out with ornately shaped shields to each of the hours with Gothic engraved numerals. The clock has blued steel club shaped hands and there is a silvered brass signature plaque below the dial signed for the makers 'T. & J. Olivant, Manchester.' It is nice to see a skeleton clock made and signed by known makers rather than retailers.

The clock stands on an ebonised base and under a glass dome.

Height excluding dome: 17.5" (45 cms.)

Price band: B

T. & J. Olivant was the partnership of Thomas Olivant (1787 - 1852) and John Olivant (1764 - 1847). These two were the sons of John Olivant the First who was born in 1728 and died in 1793. There are a number of watches and clocks signed 'T. & J. Olivant' some of which are illustrated in 'Clockmakers & Watchmakers of Greater Manchester' by Edmund Davies. John Olivant was well known in Manchester church circles and they worked in Exchange Street and St. Mary's Gate.

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