A superb moonphase mahogany longcase clock, the eight-day movement striking the hours on a bell. The 13 inch painted arched dial has black Roman hour numerals, Arabic five minute markings, a subsidiary seconds dial and date aperture. The corner spandrels are painted 'Regency' fans and the dial centre is painted with two coloured perched birds with the makers name 'Jas. Scott, Ballynahinch' painted below. The arch has the phases of the moon appearing from behind two globes and indicated on the dial above. The disc is painted with the moons as well as a seascape and a landscape. The mahogany case has many typical Belfast features including the high swan neck pediment with carved rosette wooden patrae and finial, the fluted columns to the hood having wooden capitals, the fluted band moulding below the hood, the serpentine shaped moulding to the top of the three quarter length door, the 'matchbox' moulding below the door and the fluted canted corners to the base. The trunk itself has fluted quarter columns with wooden capitals and the whole clock stands on bracket feet.
The case is typical of those used by James Scott and reminiscent of those seen housing movements by well-known Belfast makers such as James Wilson.
James Scott is recorded as working in Ballynahinch, a town south of Belfast in County Down, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) from circa 1792 until 1846. He was part of a large clockmaking family, his son John being recorded as working in the same town circa 1846 until 1858 which would indicate he took over the business at this date. Another James is recorded in Armagh in 1787 and it is possible it is the same person before he moved. A number of William Scott's are recorded in the area with one, born 1760, working in Ballygowan from 1784 until his death in 1834, presumably a brother to James; and another William being born in 1807 and working in Ballynahinch circa 1844 before his death in 1849, he presumably being the nephew of James. Another William is known to have also been working here in 1865 and then in Saintfield, County Down at the turn of the century at the same time as an S. Scott is recorded in Newtonards, being a town close by as well as the name of the whole district.
For a discussion see Clocks Magazine: March 1989, p7 and December 1988, p14.
Height: 7ft 4"
Price: £7,450.00