Click on slide show below to view further images

A small rosewood bracket clock of excellent colour standing only twelve inches high, with brass inlaid decoration. The eight-day duration, double-fusee movement strikes the hours on a bell with pull repeat, with the backplate engraved with the maker’s name Purvis, North Audley St, Grosr. Sque, along with decorative border engraving which is repeated to the pendulum bob. The 3¾ inch arched silvered dial is engraved with black Roman numerals and a repeat of the maker’s name within a cartouche below VI o’clock and has a strike/silent lever to the top, with blued steel moon hands.

The rosewood case has decorative brass inlay, a steeple pediment to the top and flat columns to the front which have scroll breaks to the half-way point, with a break-front base and steeple finials to the top front corners and shaped brass fish-scale frets to the sides, all standing on wooden bun feet.

​

Height: 12 inches (31 cms)

​

Alexander Purvis is recorded as working in North Audley Street, Grosvenor Square, London from circa 1820, and most probably for a decade or so before. He was still known to be there in 1845, although also recorded at Cheapside from before 1828 until 1844, so it is possible he moved there and returned to Grosvenor Square at this time. At some point after this year he went into partnership with Bishop with them recorded at Grosvenor Square from circa 1851 until 1881.

An Alexander Purves is recorded as being apprenticed to Robert Mason from the 12th of July 1802 in Edinburgh for the sum of £3 for five years, and it may be possible that this is the same maker.