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31487C.BR
ELLICOTT, LONDON. A HIGHLY IMPRESSIVE QUARTER STRIKING EBONISED BRACKET CLOCK WITH PROFUSELY GILDED MOUNTS AND ATTRACTIVE WOODEN SIDE FRETS. CIRCA 1770.

An extremely impressive ebonised bracket clock. The bell top case with five flambeau finials and well cast gilded mounts to the top. The canted corners of the case with foliate scrolled caryatids to the front and rear angles and well fretted silk backed sound frets to the sides below the brass carrying handles. There are further sound frets to each side of the arched front door. The base of the clock is brass bound and stands on scrolled rococo feet.

The dial with strike silent dial in the arch and with scroll and foliate spandrels has a silvered chapter ring with Roman inner numerals and Arabic outer numerals and is signed for the maker 'Ellicott, London'. The dial has a well matted centre and nicely shaped blued steel hands.

The eight day quarter striking movement is of the highest quality with triple gut fusees and well crossed out wheel work. It has six knopped pillars and strikes the quarters on eight nested bells and eight hammers. The clock has its original verge escapement and a beautifully engraved backplate.

Height to base of top finial: 19.5" (50 cms.)

Price band: F

John Ellicott was born in 1706 and died in 1772. He was a Fellow and on the Council of the Royal Society and is noted as one of the most eminent English makers. He invented a compensated pendulum and developed the use of the cylinder escapement and became Clockmaker to the King. There are many fine clocks by this maker in various collections. By 1758 he had been joined in the business by his son, Edward, by which time the signature Ellicott without the christian name was often used, although some items were signed John Ellicott & Son.

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