A very rare late 17th century kingwood veneered quarter repeating basket-topped bracket clock
James Michel, London
The case surmounted by an elaborate addorsed dolphin and birds-head handle over a pierced basket centred by a winged cherubs-head over a swag of flowers, pairs of putto to each side, and four florally mounted urn finials, on a deep moulding, the sides set with two apertures, both with repousse mounts, on a moulded plinth base, the 7 inch square brass dial with single engraved line border enclosing the four winged cherubs head spandrels and silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with cross-type half-quarter marks, elaborate half hour marks and inner quarter hour track, signed along the upper edge of the minute track, the matted centre with ringed winding square and elaborately decorated chamfered date aperture, the twin fusee movement united by five knopped pillars, with verge escapement rack striking on a bell and repeating the quarters at will on a nest of three bells, with elaborate pierced and engraved apron, the backplate with stylised wheatear border enclosing a series of intertwined foliate scrolls with large flowerheads and buds, centred by the copperplate signature within a foliate reserve 42cm (1ft 5in) high.
