Clock · Bracket clock

A George III Mahogany Table/Bracket Timepiece with 'Silent-Pull' Quarter Repeat

Partially verified

This George III mahogany table or bracket timepiece is attributed by the source to John Ratcliffe of Chester, circa 1780. The inverted bell-top case features a gilt brass carrying handle, cavetto mouldings, Gothic ogee-arch glazed side windows, and reduced ogee bracket feet. Its 7.25-inch brass break-arch dial incorporates an applied silvered Roman chapter ring with outer Arabic five-minute markings, Indian mask and scroll spandrels, and an arch boss inscribed James Conway. The four-pillar single-fusee movement retains an anchor escapement and operates a silent pull-quarter repeat mechanism sounding on demand.

George III mahogany bracket timepiece with silent-pull quarter repeat, signed Jn'o Ratcliffe, Chester — Dreweatts. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: auctions.dreweatts.com
Category: Clock · Bracket clock
Form: Table/bracket timepiece
Maker / attribution: John Ratcliffe
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 810
Source-reported date: circa 1780
Source-reported place: England

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Case Construction

The mahogany timepiece case is an inverted bell-top design with double cavetto top mouldings and a cast gilt brass carrying handle, which the source notes is a replacement. The front door contains a glazed aperture with raised mouldings and cast brass upper quadrant frets set behind the glass. The sides feature Gothic ogee-arch windows, and the rear has a rectangular glazed door.

The clock stands on a cavetto moulded shallow skirt base with truncated ogee bracket feet. Source reports that the feet have been reduced in height, and the case has various structural issues including a detached section of mask near the front door hinge and missing moulding strip at the lower edge of the cavetto cornice.

Evidence for this section

“inverted bell-top case with gilt leaf cast carrying handle”
“the top handle is a replacement”
“the sides with Gothic ogee-arch top windows”
“The feet have been reduced in height”

Dial and Inscription

The 7.25-inch brass break-arch dial features a silvered Roman numeral chapter ring with outer Arabic five-minute markings. The center is engraved with symmetrical scrolls and contains a calendar aperture. The dial is fitted with pierced steel hands and Indian mask and scroll cast spandrels.

In the arch, a silvered boss is inscribed 'JAMES CONWAY'. The source identifies spare holes in the dial plate, noting these indicate that the spandrels are replacements.

Evidence for this section

“the 7.25 inch brass break-arch Roman numeral dial”
“beneath arch centred with a silvered boss flamboyantly inscribed JAMES CONWAY”
“spare holes suggest that the spandrels are replacements”

Mechanism and Condition

The movement is a four-pillar single-fusee type with an anchor escapement, signed on the backplate 'Jn'o Ratcliffe, CHESTER'. The silent-pull quarter repeat mechanism is designed to sound hours and quarters on demand. The source notes that while the train is intended to strike on two bells, only one is currently fitted, and there are spare holes in the frontplate suggesting stands for additional bells.

The mechanism is not currently functional, with the source noting no power from the mainspring and a requirement for service. The escape wheel and pallets are identified as service replacements, and additional holes are observed on the movement pillar.

Evidence for this section

“The four pillar single fusee movement with anchor escapement”
“the escape wheel and pallets appear to be service replacements”
“There is currently only one bell fitted and there are spare holes in the frontplate suggesting stands for further bells”

Open research questions

What specific mechanism was originally intended for the additional holes observed on the movement pillar?
Does the inscription 'JAMES CONWAY' pertain to the original provenance or a later modification?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for A George III Mahogany Table/Bracket Timepiece with 'Silent-Pull' Quarter Repeat
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker attribution	John Ratcliffe, Chester, circa 1780	“JOHN RATCLIFFE, CHESTER, CIRCA 1780”
Movement	Four pillar single fusee with anchor escapement and silent pull-quarter repeat	“The four pillar single fusee movement with anchor escapement regulated by short disc bob pendulum and 'silent' pull-quarter repeat”
Dial size	7.25 inches	“the 7.25 inch brass break-arch Roman numeral dial”
Dimensions	42cm high, 27cm wide, 18cm deep	“42cm (16.5ins) high excluding later handle, 27cm (10.75ins) wide, 18cm (7ins) deep.”
Boss inscription	JAMES CONWAY	“beneath arch centred with a silvered boss flamboyantly inscribed JAMES CONWAY”
Maker	John Ratcliffe, Chester	“John Ratcliffe is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World as working in Chester 1763-97.”

Visible details

Mahogany inverted bell-top case surmounted by a cast gilt brass carrying handle.
Glazed arched front door enclosing a brass break-arch dial with a circular silvered boss in the arch.
Applied silvered chapter ring with Roman numerals and outer Arabic five-minute numerals, centered by scroll engraving and pierced steel hands.
Gothic ogee-arched glazed aperture on the visible side panel of the case.
Cast brass openwork frets positioned in the upper front corners flanking the arch.

Research qualifications

Source notes the top handle is a replacement.
Spare holes suggest that the dial spandrels are replacements.
Escape wheel and pallets appear to be service replacements.
Source reports no power from the mainspring (likely broken or unhitched barrel) and repeat train needs adjustment.
Feet have been reduced in height; clock lacks a winder and case key.

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.