Beschreibung:

A rare George II small black japanned thirty-hour longcase clock with 8.25 inch dial John Worsfold, Dorking, circa 1735 The posted countwheel bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by seconds pendulum and rectangular section corner uprights riveted to both the top and bottom plates fitted with 8.25 inch square brass dial with matted centre and pierced steel hand within applied Roman numeral chapter ring with fleur-de-lys half hour markers and unusual mask and scroll cast spandrels to angles, the black japanned case with generous ogee cornice and plain frieze over gilt floral trail decorated hinged glazed dial aperture flanked by three quarter columns and further large foliate sprays to sides with conforming quarter columns set against bargeboards to the rear, the trunk with trellis panel painted concave throat over caddy moulded door faintly decorated in raised gilt with pagodas within an Oriental garden landscape bordered by further trellis panels to the surround, the sides with large scale foliate trails, over conforming decorated plinth base incorporating tall moulded skirt, 189cm (74.5ins) high. John Worsfold is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as born in 1704; Loomes records him in Volume 2 as working in Dorking in 1728. The current lot is appears to be a particularly rare survivor with its relatively fragile pine case and original decoration being largely intact; its small proportions are also noteworthy.