E. F. Crake, Lowestoft. – 1860
£8,750.00
A particularly refined mid-Victorian domestic wall regulator by Edmund Fisher Crake, recorded in the High Street, Lowestoft between 1858 and 1879. Clocks by East Anglian provincial makers of this quality are uncommon, and this example clearly aspires beyond the merely functional.
The profusely carved mahogany case, rising to an elegant arch top, has the confident presence of exhibition work. The carving is bold yet controlled, framing a dial of modest scale but dignified proportion. At 9 inches, the cream painted dial, signed in block capitals to the centre, is fitted with a well-balanced pair of spade hands, giving the piece a crisp and authoritative appearance.
The eight-day weight-driven movement is regulated by a steel rod pendulum with a heavy brass bob, the relatively small brass weight providing power with admirable efficiency. Regulators of this scale were intended not merely for domestic ornament but for accurate timekeeping within the home or workshop — an essential instrument in an era when precision increasingly governed commerce and transport.
At 107 cm in height, the clock maintains an elegant verticality without dominating a room, making it highly suitable for a study, hall, or professional interior. The proportions are well judged, the carving lively without excess, and the overall effect distinctly architectural.
A fine provincial regulator of exhibition character and strong decorative appeal.
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