AN UNUSUAL GEORGE III/REGENCY MAHOGANY SMALL TABLE/BRACKET CLOCK WITH BALL-SPORTS AUTOMATON UNSIGNED, EARLY 19th CENTURY The four pillar twin fusee bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum, the 6 inch white painted break-arch Roman numeral dial with Arabic quarters beyond the minute track, with steel spade hands and gilt foliate scroll painted spandrels, beneath arch painted with a garden landscape before a picturesque Gothic ruin incorporating cut-out to reveal a figure holding forth a ball gesturing forwards (approximately every five minutes) towards a second automaton feature releasing in sequence (incomplete), the break-arch case with hinged brass carrying handle over complex top mouldings and break-arch glazed door inset with brass fillet mouldings to dial aperture, the sides with arched brass fishscale sound frets and the rear finished flush with arch-glazed door set within the frame of the case, on moulded skirt base with brass ogee bracket feet. 35.5cm (14ins) high with handle down, 25cm (9.75ins) wide, 17cm (6.75ins) deep. Although the current lot appears to be unsigned the bell is cast with bold text G. AINSWORTH, WARR. to upper surface. George Ainsworth is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as a 'pinion maker' working in Warrington, Cheshire circa 1807. The automaton feature of the present clock is unusual in that it is activated by cams attached to the end of the second wheel arbor of the going train rather than via the striking mechanism or escapement. There are two cams present, the first was made to operate the figure to the left of the dial aperture and the second operates another linkage which terminates just right of the centre lower margin - most probably for a second figure which is no longer present. Due to the incomplete nature of the automata it is difficult to ascertain the action that it was intended to depict, however, from the extant elements, it would appear that the action was relates to some form of ball-sports such as bowls or possibly a batting sport.
AN UNUSUAL GEORGE III/REGENCY MAHOGANY SMALL TABLE/BRACKET CLOCK WITH BALL-SPORTS AUTOMATON UNSIGNED, EARLY 19th CENTURY The four pillar twin fusee bell striking movement with anchor escapement regulated by disc bob pendulum, the 6 inch white painted break-arch Roman numeral dial with Arabic quarters beyond the minute track, with steel spade hands and gilt foliate scroll painted spandrels, beneath arch painted with a garden landscape before a picturesque Gothic ruin incorporating cut-out to reveal a figure holding forth a ball gesturing forwards (approximately every five minutes) towards a second automaton feature releasing in sequence (incomplete), the break-arch case with hinged brass carrying handle over complex top mouldings and break-arch glazed door inset with brass fillet mouldings to dial aperture, the sides with arched brass fishscale sound frets and the rear finished flush with arch-glazed door set within the frame of the case, on moulded skirt base with brass ogee bracket feet. 35.5cm (14ins) high with handle down, 25cm (9.75ins) wide, 17cm (6.75ins) deep. Although the current lot appears to be unsigned the bell is cast with bold text G. AINSWORTH, WARR. to upper surface. George Ainsworth is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as a 'pinion maker' working in Warrington, Cheshire circa 1807. The automaton feature of the present clock is unusual in that it is activated by cams attached to the end of the second wheel arbor of the going train rather than via the striking mechanism or escapement. There are two cams present, the first was made to operate the figure to the left of the dial aperture and the second operates another linkage which terminates just right of the centre lower margin - most probably for a second figure which is no longer present. Due to the incomplete nature of the automata it is difficult to ascertain the action that it was intended to depict, however, from the extant elements, it would appear that the action was relates to some form of ball-sports such as bowls or possibly a batting sport.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
