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749
BENJAMIN TOLKIEN, LONDON, NO. 2471. A LARGE EBONISED HOUR AND HALF HOUR STRIKING BRACKET CLOCK WITH DEADBEAT ESCAPEMENT.  CIRCA 1800.

A large and impressive ebonised bracket clock. The bell top case stands on a large brass bound splayed base and has brass inlaid canted corners to both front and rear. The sound frets and doors are all brass bound and the frets themselves are nicely chased and silk backed. In addition to the two frets on the side there are also frets at the top of both the front and the rear doors.

The bell top has brass edging to the base and to the middle and is surmounted by a pedestal with a finial and two nicely chased fretted brackets. The case has four further finials in each of the corners.

The dial is a particularly attractive feature. It has well cast spandrels in the corners and strike/silent and pendulum adjustment dials above the main chapter ring. In between these two subsidiary dials in the arch is the silvered signature plaque, ‘Benjamin Tolkien, London, No. 2471.’ The matted centre of the dial has a recessed silvered seconds dial which beats half seconds with the deadbeat escapement. The hands are nicely fretted out.

The eight day twin chain fusee movement has five knopped pillars, well crossed out wheelwork and nicely shaped cocks, both for the pendulum and for the pendulum adjustment mechanism. It has a very heavy steel and brass pendulum and a pendulum holdfast at the bottom of the plates. The backplate is nicely signed with a flowing signature, ‘Benjamin Tolkien, London,’ and the number of the clock, 2471, is engraved on the top right hand corner of the backplate.

Height to base of top finial: 22.5" (57 cms.)

Price band: C

Benjamin Tolkien is noted as working in London from 1805 but is best known for being one part of the partnership with William Gravell who became Master of the Clockmakers’ Company. The partnership of Gravell & Tolkien made some excellent clocks and watches, one of which is in the Ilbert Collection.