Skip to content
The Encyclopedia of Horology

Clock · Dial wall timepiece

Victorian fusee dial wall timepiece with ten-inch dial and rise/fall regulation adjustment

Partially verified

This Victorian single chain fusee dial wall timepiece features a ten-inch white-painted Roman numeral dial inscribed 'S. MAW SON & SON, LONDON'. Fitted with steel spade hands and an S/F regulation square at twelve o'clock, the movement utilizes four columnar pillars, an anchor escapement, and a lenticular bob pendulum with cam-operated transverse pivoted beam rise/fall regulation. The mechanism is mounted behind a hinged bevel-glazed moulded cast brass bezel with a silvered canted inner insert, enclosed by a turned mahogany dial surround pegged to a rear box case featuring side and underside access doors.

Front three-quarter view of the Victorian mahogany fusee dial wall timepiece
Front three-quarter view of the Victorian mahogany fusee dial wall timepiece — Dreweatts. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
auctions.dreweatts.com
Category
Clock · Dial wall timepiece
Maker / attribution
S. Maw Son & Son
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
166
Source-reported date
circa 1860
Country
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

Dial and Exterior Construction

The timepiece features a ten-inch white-painted dial with Roman numerals, signed 'S. MAW SON & SON, LONDON' at the center. The dial is set behind a hinged, bevel-glazed moulded cast brass bezel with a silvered canted insert along the inner edge. Regulation is controlled by an S/F square at the twelve o'clock position.

The dial is framed by a turned mahogany surround, which is secured by pegs to the rear box case. The case includes an access door on the right side and an access flap for the pendulum on the curved underside.

Evidence for this section
  • “the 10 inch white painted Roman numeral dial signed S. MAW SON & SON, LONDON to centre”
  • “set behind hinged bevel-glazed moulded cast brass bezel with silvered canted insert to inner edge”
  • “S/F regulation adjustment square at twelve o' clock”
  • “conforming turned mahogany dial surround secured with pegs to the rear box case incorporating door to right hand side over pendulum access flap to the curved underside.”

Movement and Regulation

The timepiece is powered by a four-columnar pillar, single-chain fusee movement. It utilizes an anchor escapement.

Regulation is managed by a lenticular bob pendulum. The suspension features a cam-operated, transverse pivoted beam for rise-and-fall regulation.

Evidence for this section
  • “The four columnar pillar single chain fusee movement with anchor escapement regulated by lenticular bob pendulum incorporating cam-operated transverse pivoted beam rise/fall regulation to suspension”

Attribution and Dating

The auction catalogue identifies the timepiece as dating to circa 1860. The inscription 'S. MAW SON & SON, LONDON' is noted in relation to the company history, with the suggestion that the name on the dial may have been updated after circa 1901 to reflect the firm's change in trading name.

The source suggests the timepiece may have been used in a showroom, office, or factory setting.

Evidence for this section
  • “INSCRIBED FOR S. MAW SON AND SON, LONDON, CIRCA 1860”
  • “the name on the dial updated to reflect the change in company name after 1901.”
  • “it is most likely that the present timepiece was used as a showroom, office or factory timepiece”

Open research questions

  • Does the movement possess any maker's marks or serial numbers that can verify its age relative to the circa 1860 date?
  • Is there evidence of dial repainting or alteration consistent with the hypothesis of a post-1901 name update?
  • Does the mahogany dial surround show structural evidence of having been attached to a different movement or dial previously?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Victorian fusee dial wall timepiece with ten-inch dial and rise/fall regulation adjustment
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
EscapementAnchor escapement“The four columnar pillar single chain fusee movement with anchor escapement”
Dial inscriptionS. MAW SON & SON, LONDON“signed S. MAW SON & SON, LONDON to centre”
Regulation mechanismCam-operated transverse pivoted beam rise/fall regulation“regulated by lenticular bob pendulum incorporating cam-operated transverse pivoted beam rise/fall regulation to suspension”
Dimensions32.5cm diameter, 14cm deep“32.5cm (12.75ins) diameter, 14cm (5.5ins) deep.”
Dial size10 inch“the 10 inch white painted Roman numeral dial”
Overall Dimensions32.5cm diameter, 14cm deep“32.5cm (12.75ins) diameter, 14cm (5.5ins) deep.”

Visible details

  • Turned dark mahogany dial surround encircling a hinged cast brass glazed bezel
  • Off-white painted dial with black Roman hour numerals and outer closed minute track
  • Blued or blackened steel spade hands and winding arbor below the dial center
  • Rise and fall square visible within the numeral XII with flanking S and F markings

Research qualifications

  • The auction house notes the clock dates to circa 1860 but the dial name was likely updated post-1901 to reflect the firm's change to S. Maw, Son and Son
  • Movement and interior case components are described in the catalogue but not visible in the primary photograph

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

Consulted source

A VICTORIAN FUSEE DIAL WALL TIMEPIECE WITH TEN-INCH DIAL AND RISE/FALL REGULATION ADJUSTMENT

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Record 44eb27c636

Terms in this record

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

Other dial wall timepiece records