A well figured mahogany longcase clock with an eight day movement striking the hours on a bell, the 12 inch painted arched dial is signed 'Harris & Son, Bath', with a date aperture, subsidiary seconds dial, black Roman numerals, decorative brass hands and raised gesso rococo corner decoration which is repeated to the arch either side of an oval decoration in which is painted the Prince of Wales feathers. The rear of the dial false plate is stamped with the dialmaker's name 'Osborne'. The mahogany case is of typical Bristol/Bath style having a lovely warm colour with boxwood stringing to the base, trunk door and hood, with the hood having a better than normal swan neck pediment and three brass 'ball & spire' finials with the fluted pillars to the hood with brass capitals.
Matthias (Matthew) Harris is recorded as living and working at 8 Horse Street, Bath prior to 1798 and was still known at that address in 1812. On the 12th of May, 1801 it is known that he paid £87/10 for the lease on the Messauge Brewhouse, stables, garden etc on the east side of Horse Street for himself and his three sons, Matthias junr. aged 20, Thomas aged 15 and Edward at an annual rent of 10s. It is possible that this is a renewal of the 8 Horse Street address lease and was both their home as well as workshop.
Matthias was not only a clockmaker but also a silversmith and engraver. His first son Matthias junr. worked alongside him until 1809, prior to which the business was known as Harris & Son, which would date this clock to before this time. Matthias junr. then moved to 4, Upper Borough Walls with his brother Thomas, the latter now known as a watch case maker having been apprenticed to the well known Bath case maker William Brooks in 1800. In 1812 they moved to number one and in 1819 they moved next door to number two.
There are examples of watches signed both Matthias Harris and Matthias Harris & Son in the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath.
James Hadley Osborne was the earliest, and one of the most famous, of the Birmingham painted dial makers having been in partnership with James Wilson from 1772 until 1777 when they pioneered this form of dial making, setting up Birmingham as the most prolific and populated area for makers of longcase dials in the following half century. In this period the majority of painted dials used on longcase clocks came from this area. Although he died in 1779 the firm was carried on by various family makers, firstly his widow Ann until 1786 when she was joined by their son James until 1790 and then in various forms until the two of them together from 1797 until James alone from 1807 until 1813. They were known for their wonderful gesso work as on this example.
Height: 7ft 7 inches, including finial
Price: £5,250.00