An oak and mahogany longcase clock, the eight day movement strikes the hours on a bell. Interestingly the weights are stamped with the maker's name and place. The round painted dial has black Roman hour numerals, blued steel moon hands, a seconds dial and is signed by the maker 'Rickard, Exeter'. The rear of the dial has a falsepate embossed with the name 'Isaac Dell, Bristol'. Normally this would indicate the actual dialmaker but it is quite possible that in this instance it is the name of the Bristol clockmaker who supplied Rickard with the whole clock as Isaac Dell and Dell & co. were well known as suppliers of wholly made items for the clock trade. The oak case has a scroll top pediment, canted corners to the hood and trunk, and mahogany crossbanding.
* A number of the Rickard family are recorded as working in Exeter in the early 1800’s. John Rickard was apprenticed in 1767 and was known to be at Westgate in 1789. His son, also John, was babtised at St Mary’s Steps in 1784 and is the most likely maker of this clock. He is recorded as working in Exeter from at least 1812 when he married Elizabeth Barrell at Heavitree. In 1815 he advertised for a ‘respectable youth as an apprentice’. He was known to be in Bridge Street in 1841.
Hercules Rickard, another son of John, was babtised in 1787 and was known to be working as a clockmaker in the High Street in 1815. In 1841 he moved to 6, Paris Street. He married Mary Sampson in 1812 with whom he had five children.
Isaac Dell is recorded as working in Bristol in the mid 1800's with Del & Co. working as suppliers of clocks, clock parts and complete clocks to the trade. They were at 44, Broad Street and an advertisement shows them as being established in 1830 as 'Watch and Clock Manufacturers'.
Height: To be measured
Price: £3,450.00
Sold