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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Gallery clock

F.W. Elliot English Fusee Gallery Clock

Partially verified

This English fusee gallery clock dates to circa 1938 and is reported by the auction house to have been made by F.W. Elliot Ltd. in England. It features a circular mahogany case measuring 16 by 16 by 6 inches, housing an 11-inch painted white dial with Roman numerals, a closed outer track, and the crowned royal cypher of King George VI. The source describes an eight-day brass fusee movement signed '4771, Made by F.W. Elliot Ltd., England, 1938'. The catalog states that the dovetailed case retains its original finish, dial, hands, and pendulum.

Dial and bezel of the F.W. Elliot gallery clock featuring the George VI cypher
Dial and bezel of the F.W. Elliot gallery clock featuring the George VI cypher — Fontaine's Auction Gallery. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
www.invaluable.com
Category
Clock · Gallery clock
Maker / attribution
F.W. Elliot Ltd.
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
240
Source-reported date
circa 1938
Country
United Kingdom
Source-reported serial
4771

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

Dial and Visual Appearance

The clock displays a circular dial housed within a molded outer surround and an inner brass bezel. As observed visually, the dark-stained molded wood surround encloses a brass inner dial bezel fitted with an exposed hinge on the right side. The painted cream-white dial features black Roman numerals encircled by an outer railway-style minute track, with time shown by black hands comprising a spade-tipped hour hand and a straight minute hand.

Directly below the 12 o'clock numeral, the dial bears the crowned King George VI royal cypher ('G VI R'). The auction catalog describes this assembly as an '11-inch painted white dial with Roman numerals and the monogram of King George VI', asserting that the dial and hands remain original.

Evidence for this section
  • “Circular dark-stained molded wood bezel or surround”
  • “Brass inner dial bezel with a visible hinge on the right side”
  • “Crowned King George VI royal cypher ('G VI R') displayed below 12 o'clock”
  • “11-inch painted white dial with Roman numerals and the monogram of King George VI”
  • “original pendulum, dial and hands”

Case Construction

The clock's housing is described in the auction catalog as a 'mahogany case' with stated dimensions of '16 x 16 x 6 inches'. The listing further characterizes it as a 'dovetailed case in original finish'.

Direct visual observation is limited to the circular molded front surround. The rear housing, side depth, and dovetailed joints noted by the auction house are not depicted in the single front-facing photograph.

Evidence for this section
  • “mahogany case with 11-inch painted white dial”
  • “dovetailed case in original finish”
  • “16 x 16 x 6 inches”

Movement and Reported Mechanics

The auction description documents an '8-day brass fusee movement' inscribed '4771, Made by F.W. Elliot Ltd., England, 1938'. The catalog entry notes that the lot includes an 'original pendulum'.

Regarding operational status, the seller's description notes 'runs and stops'. The movement plates, serial inscription, fusee mechanism, and pendulum assembly are not visible in the available photograph, and their verification relies entirely on the catalog text.

Evidence for this section
  • “8-day brass fusee movement is signed "4771, Made by F.W. Elliot Ltd., England, 1938,"”
  • “original pendulum, dial and hands, runs and stops”

Cataloguing Discrepancies and Limitations

The auction listing presents an internal inconsistency: the metadata field for 'Artist or Maker' specifies 'F. English', whereas the lot title and description identify the clock as an 'F.W. Elliot English Fusee Gallery Clock' signed by F.W. Elliot Ltd.

The available documentation provides only a single frontal photograph of the dial and bezel. As a result, the internal movement, rear case construction, stamped markings, and physical condition of the movement cannot be corroborated beyond the auctioneer's catalog claims.

Evidence for this section
  • “Artist or Maker F. English”
  • “F.W. Elliot English Fusee Gallery Clock, circa 1938”

Open research questions

  • What is the reason for the catalog metadata listing 'F. English' under Artist or Maker when the movement is reportedly signed by F.W. Elliot Ltd.?
  • Does direct physical inspection of the movement plates confirm the serial number '4771' and the 1938 date stamp?
  • What specific mechanical condition or wear causes the movement to intermittently run and stop?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for F.W. Elliot English Fusee Gallery Clock
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerF.W. Elliot Ltd.“Made by F.W. Elliot Ltd., England, 1938”
Movement Serial4771“signed "4771, Made by F.W. Elliot Ltd., England, 1938,"”
Dial InscriptionMonogram of King George VI“monogram of King George VI”
Movement Type8-day brass fusee“8-day brass fusee movement”
Dial Size11-inch“11-inch painted white dial”
Case MaterialMahogany“mahogany case”
Dimensions16 x 16 x 6 inches“16 x 16 x 6 inches”
Operational StatusRuns and stops“runs and stops”
Case JoineryDovetailed“dovetailed case in original finish”

Visible details

  • Circular dark-stained molded wood bezel or surround
  • Brass inner dial bezel with a visible hinge on the right side
  • Cream-white painted dial with black Roman numerals and an outer railway-style minute track
  • Crowned King George VI royal cypher ('G VI R') displayed below 12 o'clock
  • Black hands including a spade-tipped hour hand and a straight minute hand

Research qualifications

  • Internal mechanics, fusee movement, and movement signature are not visible in the provided photograph
  • Auction listing header contains a typographical artist line stating 'F. English' alongside 'F.W. Elliot'

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

Consulted source

Sold at Auction: F. English, F.W. Elliot English Fusee Gallery Clock

Reviewed 2026-10-21 · Record ec153ecb7c

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.