Rare Early Provincial Lantern Clock – Circa 1830

This Crossthwaite & Hodges mahogany bracket clock, dating to around 1775, represents the fine craftsmanship of late-Georgian London horology. The firm of Crossthwaite & Hodges operated in the second half of the 18th century, producing high-quality domestic clocks in fashionable cases for a discerning clientele. The pad-top form, with its restrained architectural lines and flame-mahogany veneers, was particularly popular in the 1760s and 1770s, reflecting the shift from heavier Baroque styles toward the more refined neoclassical taste that was spreading through English furniture and decorative arts at the time. Bracket clocks such as this were often paired with gilt brass mounts and fine dials, making them both functional timekeepers and objects of interior display.

The period was one of technical refinement in English clockmaking, with the widespread use of verge and later anchor escapements, sophisticated striking work, and the adoption of fusee movements ensuring accuracy and steady power delivery. Crossthwaite & Hodges belonged to a generation of London makers who upheld the city’s reputation as the world’s leading center for precision timekeeping before the industrial expansion of the 19th century. A bracket clock from 1775 would likely have been a costly possession, signalling the owner’s wealth, taste, and engagement with the intellectual climate of the Enlightenment, when accurate timekeeping was increasingly valued in both domestic and scientific settings.