W. H. Howe of Clare – Circa 1835
£3,400.00
A William IV Figured Mahogany Double Fusee Bracket Clock
Circa 1835
A finely proportioned William IV period bracket clock by W. H. Howe of Clare, Suffolk, housed in a richly figured mahogany case of confident architectural presence. The shaped pediment is carved with bold leaf ornament and rises to a small stylised crown, lending the clock a distinctive vertical emphasis. Below, a glazed front door framed by brass-capped canted corners encloses the dial, the case terminating in a plinth base raised upon squat bun feet. The timber displays a deep, warm patina, its figuring animated by the restrained yet effective carving characteristic of the 1830s.
The 6-inch arched silvered dial is particularly attractive, profusely engraved with foliate scrollwork of notable quality. At the centre, a finely executed cartouche bears the maker’s name, framed by the engraved decoration in a manner both elegant and assured. The engraving demonstrates the hand of a skilled dial engraver, reflecting the taste for enriched silvered dials that became especially fashionable during the late Georgian and William IV years.
Behind the dial stands an eight-day, five-pillar double fusee movement of excellent construction, striking the hours on a bell. The use of double fusees ensures consistent power delivery to both the going and striking trains, a feature associated with clocks of superior quality. The heavy brass pendulum fitted with a teardrop shaped transit block and knurled holdfast. The robust pillar structure and well-proportioned plates speak to careful manufacture, while the overall layout reflects the continued refinement of English bracket clock making during the early nineteenth century.
Height: 45 cm
A handsome and well-made provincial example, combining decorative assurance with mechanical substance, and representing the confident craftsmanship of a regional maker working within the established London tradition.
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