Rosewood – It's About Time

Fine Mantel Clock by Henry Marc

Paul Williams — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 15:45:46 +0000

An attractive French mantel clock in the ‘Pendule portative’ style with a decorative carrying handle. The glass is removed upwards to wind the clock and set the time via the tiny ebony handle. The dial is vitreous enamel showing the makers name and Roman numerals, above the 12 there is a small Brocot dial for adjustment. The clock is of 8 day duration and has a bell strike for the hour and the half hour. The clock can also be run in silent mode by just winding the going side. The case is Rosewood with boxwood inlays of geometric style. A glass aperture to the top and one to each side in a diamond shape. The rear door opens to reveal a fully overhauled mechanism. The clock was made and retailed by Henry Marc, who produced superb clocks throughout the mid 19th Century.

Fine Mantel Clock by Raingo Freres

Paul Williams — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 16:18:19 +0000

An attractive French mantel clock with a silk suspension in the ‘Pendule portative’ style with a decorative carrying handle. The glass is removed upwards to wind the clock and set the time via the tiny ebony handle. The dial is vitreous enamel showing the makers name and Roman numerals, it does have very slight chips around the winding holes but you have to be very close to see them! The clock is of 8 day duration and has a bell strike for the hour and the half hour. The case is Rosewood with boxwood inlays of geometric style. A glass aperture to the top and one to each side in a diamond shape. The rear door opens to reveal a fully overhauled mechanism stamped with the Raingo stamp. The clock was made and retailed by Raingo of Paris who produced superb clocks throughout the mid 19th Century. Zacharie Joseph Raingo (1775 – 1847), a clockmaker was born in Belgium in 1775. Z.J.Raingo specialised in creating astronomical or Orrery clocks. One of these a planetary pendulum clock made in 1824, was purchased by King George IV of England and is now housed in Windsor Castle. When servicing this clock we discovered that the spring had been lightly scratched with the date 1846, we think this may date the clock quite accurately.

Purvis of London Small Bracket Clock

Paul Williams — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 09:13:23 +0000

A fine bracket clock, slightly smaller than most at only 31cm tall. The case is particularly attractive, made from Rosewood with a gadrooned top and gadrooned fans to the door, as well as turned Rosewood bun feet and nice Rosewood finial to top. The front and back doors are lockable and come complete with keys. All four sides are glazed and the front and sides are bordered by brass sightrings, with the front glass a very nice ornate arch shape, complementing the silvered dial, with Roman numerals, original hands, and maker’s name to the bottom. The dial and movement are signed Alexander Purvis of North Audley Street, London, who is recorded working there from 1828 until at least 1851, at which point he took on a partner, becoming Purvis & Bishop, and the company continuted trading under this name well into the 20th century. This clock would’ve been made and retailed somewhere between 1828 and 1837, likely during the reign of William IV, before the Victorian era.