James Stratton
Director
Lot 45
A fine and very rare late 18th century triple-pad top mahogany quarter chiming bracket clock with enamel dial and original case-makers label to the bracket Johnson, London
2 December 2025, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond Street£5,000 - £7,000
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Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
A fine and very rare late 18th century triple-pad top mahogany quarter chiming bracket clock with enamel dial and original case-makers label to the bracket
Johnson, London
The three brass-bound pads over a break-arch moulded cornice, the front door with brass sight ring and concealed door-release mechanism in the lower left hand underside corner, the sides with large brass-banded rectangular observation windows, the back with similar glazed door with secret release, all on a moulded base keying into the original bespoke wall bracket of a matching rich colour and figure, further brass banding and a drawer opening to reveal a key recess and the original printed paper label reading:
"Boningtons, Clock Case Makers, No. 6 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, London. Make and sell all sorts of spring, long and dial cases in the neatest manner and on the shortest notice for home trade and exportation. Old cases carefully repaired. Printed by W. Hindmarsh, No. 32 Clerkenwell Close."
The 7.5-inch arched white enamel Roman and Arabic dial signed to the centre Johnson, London, with finely finished blued steel hands. The break-arch displaying three subsidiary dials — on the left STRIKE/SILENT, the right CHIME/SILENT, and the centre for rise-and-fall regulation. The substantial triple chain fusee movement with anchor escapement (converted from verge), striking the hours on a large bell mounted above the backplate and chiming the quarters on a nest of eight graduated bells and hammers. The backplate finely engraved with flowing neoclassical scrolls and foliate decoration centred by a vase issuing budding flowers. Ticking and striking, and sold together with the original winding key. 42cms (16.5ins) high (without bracket). (66cms 2ft 2ins on the original bracket).
The three brass-bound pads over a break-arch moulded cornice, the front door with brass sight ring and concealed door-release mechanism in the lower left hand underside corner, the sides with large brass-banded rectangular observation windows, the back with similar glazed door with secret release, all on a moulded base keying into the original bespoke wall bracket of a matching rich colour and figure, further brass banding and a drawer opening to reveal a key recess and the original printed paper label reading:
"Boningtons, Clock Case Makers, No. 6 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, London. Make and sell all sorts of spring, long and dial cases in the neatest manner and on the shortest notice for home trade and exportation. Old cases carefully repaired. Printed by W. Hindmarsh, No. 32 Clerkenwell Close."
The 7.5-inch arched white enamel Roman and Arabic dial signed to the centre Johnson, London, with finely finished blued steel hands. The break-arch displaying three subsidiary dials — on the left STRIKE/SILENT, the right CHIME/SILENT, and the centre for rise-and-fall regulation. The substantial triple chain fusee movement with anchor escapement (converted from verge), striking the hours on a large bell mounted above the backplate and chiming the quarters on a nest of eight graduated bells and hammers. The backplate finely engraved with flowing neoclassical scrolls and foliate decoration centred by a vase issuing budding flowers. Ticking and striking, and sold together with the original winding key. 42cms (16.5ins) high (without bracket). (66cms 2ft 2ins on the original bracket).
Footnotes
John Johnson (active circa 1770–1800) was a London watch and clockmaker, recorded as working at 9 Gray's Inn Passage and later at the Royal Exchange. He is believed to have been the son of Thomas Johnson, a clock and watchmaker active at the same address around 1730. His name is recorded by both Brian Loomes in Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World and F.J. Britten in Old Clocks and Watches and Their Makers.
The above lot retains a rare original paper case-maker's label affixed to the inside of the case bracket, reading: "Boningtons, Clock Case Makers, No. 6 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell, London." This provides an interesting insight into the horological case-making trade of the period, indicating that Johnson and other contemporary makers sourced their cases from Boningtons, a firm noted for manufacturing and supplying "all sorts of spring, long and dial cases in the neatest manner and on the shortest notice, for home trade and exportation. Old cases carefully repaired." The label further notes printing by W. Hindmarsh, No. 32 Clerkenwell Close.