A lovely small oak and mahogany longcase clock with an eight day movement striking the hours on a bell. The beautifully painted 12 inch square dial is signed to the centre with the maker's name 'Jn. Hansford, Ilminster', with floral decoration to the corners, black Roman numerals, subsidiary seonds and date dials and brass 'crown' style hands. Interestingly the rear of the seatboard has written in ink 'John Smith Ilminster' who is quite likely the first owner with the maker putting his name here to remind him who he was making it for.
The oak case has mahogany crossbanding to the door and base with further mahogany veneers and satinwood & ebony stringing applied to the case and hood. There are well turned pillars to the hood with brass capitals and a swan neck pediment with brass patrae and a turned brass finial.
John Hansford, born 1806, is recorded as working in East Street, Ilminster, Somerset from before 1836 until 1850 when he moved to West Street. It is believed he died in 1862 aged 56 at which time his son, also John, took sole charge of the business. By 1883 it was known as Hansford & Son and was situated in the Market Square.
Height: 82 inches
Price: £4,250.00