Clock · Bracket clock

Victorian Carved and Burr Walnut Veneered Quarter-Chiming Bracket Clock

Partially verified

This Victorian bracket clock, dated to the mid-19th century and indistinctly signed by J.H. Allis of Bristol, is housed in a carved and burr walnut veneered case. The source reports a substantial six-pillar triple chain fusee movement with anchor escapement, regulated by a heavy lenticular bob pendulum. The quarter chime sounds on a graduated nest of eight bells, with the hour struck on an additional larger bell. The circular cream painted dial displays Roman numerals and a trefoil hour hand within a hinged brass bezel.

Front three-quarter view of the Victorian burr walnut quarter-chiming bracket clock — Dreweatts. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source: auctions.dreweatts.com
Category: Clock · Bracket clock
Form: Quarter-chiming bracket clock
Maker / attribution: J.H. Allis
Reference: Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier: 773
Source-reported date: mid 19th Century
Source-reported place: United Kingdom

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 clock is housed in a carved, burr walnut veneered case featuring an ogee-profile top. The front is decorated with leafy scroll-carved cresting that includes rounded side projections, complemented by carved scroll motifs at the lower corners of the fascia.

The base consists of an ogee-moulded skirt resting on shallow pad feet. The rear of the case is fitted with a door containing a rectangular brass grille.

Evidence for this section

“Shaped burr walnut case with carved leafy scroll cresting at the top”
“the ogee profile top case fronted with leafy scroll-carved crest incorporating rounded projections to the sides, over conforming scroll carved motifs to the lower corners of the fascia”
“the rear flush with rectangular brass grille inset door”
“on ogee moulded skirt base with shallow pad feet”

Dial and Visual Features

The clock face features a circular, 8-inch cream-painted dial displaying Roman numerals. It is set within a canted silvered surround behind a hinged, bevel-glazed brass bezel. The hands are blued steel, with the hour hand described as a trefoil pattern.

The dial contains a signature attributed to J.H. Allis of Bristol, though this marking is described as indistinct.

Evidence for this section

“8 inch circular cream painted Roman numeral dial indistinctly signed J.H. ALLIS, BRISTOL”
“set within a canted silvered surround behind hinged cast brass bevel-glazed bezel”
“blued hands with the hour being of trefoil pattern”

Mechanism

The clock is powered by a triple chain fusee movement featuring six tapered baluster pillars and an anchor escapement. It is regulated by a heavy lenticular bob pendulum.

The striking mechanism utilizes a graduated nest of eight bells for the quarters and a larger bell to sound the hour. The backplate is engraved with the maker's name centered above a pendulum holdfast bracket.

Evidence for this section

“substantial six tapered baluster pillar triple chain fusee movement with anchor escapement”
“chiming the quarters on a graduated nest of eight bells and sounding the hour on a further larger bell”
“the backplate engraved J.H. Allis, BRISTOL to centre over pendulum holdfast bracket”

Open research questions

Is the 'indistinct' signature on the dial consistent with the engraving on the movement backplate?
Can the clock be definitively linked to the 'bracket regulator timepiece' exhibited by J.H. Allis at the 1851 Great Exhibition?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Victorian Carved and Burr Walnut Veneered Quarter-Chiming Bracket Clock
Field	Source-reported value	Source quotation
Maker	J.H. Allis, Bristol	“J.H. ALLIS, BRISTOL, MID 19th CENTURY”
Movement	Triple chain fusee movement with anchor escapement	“substantial six tapered baluster pillar triple chain fusee movement with anchor escapement”
Striking / Chiming	Quarter-chiming on eight bells and hour strike on a larger bell	“chiming the quarters on a graduated nest of eight bells and sounding the hour on a further larger bell”
Dial	8-inch cream painted dial	“8 inch circular cream painted Roman numeral dial indistinctly signed J.H. ALLIS, BRISTOL”
Dimensions	56.5 cm high, 41 cm wide, 23.5 cm deep	“56.5cm (22.25ins) high, 41cm (16.25ins) wide, 23.5cm (9.25ins) deep.”
Attributed Maker	J.H. Allis, Bristol	“J.H. ALLIS, BRISTOL, MID 19th CENTURY”

Visible details

Shaped burr walnut case with carved leafy scroll cresting at the top
Carved scroll spandrels framing the lower fascia above the plinth
Circular cream-painted dial with black Roman numerals and blued hands
Trefoil-patterned hour hand
Glazed circular brass bezel
Stepped ogee-moulded plinth base resting on shallow pad feet

Research qualifications

Internal triple chain fusee movement and bells are not visible in the photograph; details rely on auction cataloguer's description
Dial signature is noted by the source as indistinct

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