A stunning three train, bell top mahogany bracket clock. The six pillar, triple fusee movement having it's original verge escapement and striking the hours on a large bell and the quarters on three further bells, with a fully engraved backplate of floral and rococo decoration. The eight inch arched dial has a solid silvered centre engraved with the maker's name 'John Gilbertson, Rippon' and with sweep centre date, the date numerals engraved to the inner aspect and indicated by a brass hand. The chapter ring is engraved with black Roman hour numerals and Arabic five minute markings. The decorative hands are of blued steel and to the four corners are floral and rococo cast brass spandrels, with further spandrels to the arch either side of the silvered 'strike/silent' dial.
The mahogany bell top case has cast brass finials, cast brass feet, with cast 'Cherub Head' fretwork to the sides and with brass carrying handles above each. The fluted block to the top is surmounted by a further brass finial and has gilded wood scroll work to either side.
* John Gilbertson is recorded as working in Rippon (Ripon), Yorkshire from about 1750 until his death in 1793. A longcase clock by him is illustrated in "Clockmakers of Northern England" by Brian Loomes. C.L. Reid, in "North Country Clockmakers", notes that some clocks by him have the name Ripon spelt Rippon, as in this case. Gilbertson was recorded as a clockmaker in the "Universal British Directory" of 1790-95, a list of which was published in "The Yorkshire Evening Post", July 25th, 1908.
The quality and style of this clock would indicate that Gilbertson 'bought-in' the movement, and quite probably the whole clock, from London as it is almost identical to some of the finest work by the top London makers of the period.
Height: 25 inches
Price: £18,500.00