Wall clock by Richard Cole, c. 1800–1810

Dealer description — Howard Walwyn

A fine and rare late George III period mahogany striking wooden dial wall clock by this well-known Suffolk clockmaker. The mahogany case is of beautiful colour and patination and features a finely turned mahogany head with a moulded surround, fitted with a hinged brass bezel enclosing the convex dial. Below, there is a short drop with carved earpieces to either side, leading to a rectangular base box with a flush-front door for pendulum access, centred by a small key escutcheon. The 14-inch painted wooden dial has a beautiful craquelure finish, with bold Roman hour numerals and an outer track for the minutes. It is signed by the maker Rich ᵈ Cole , Cornhill , Ipswich . There are two winding apertures for the going and strike trains and the original spear-point hands are finely blued and elegantly pierced. The substantial 8-day twin fusee movement has an anchor escapement, regulated by a pendulum with a lenticular brass bob. It has five knopped pillars and strikes the hours on a bell. Height: 23 in (58.4 cm) Width: 17 in (43.2 cm) Depth: 7 in (17.75 cm) Maker’s note *Richard Cole is recorded as a provincial watch and clockmaker working in Ipswich, Suffolk, with Cornhill referring to the prominent central street and marketplace area of the town. Period references place a Richard Cole trading as a watchmaker in Ipswich around 1800, consistent with the late-Georgian character of this fine clock. A further surviving example: a posted-frame 30-hour clock attributed to Richard Cole of Ipswich and discussed in an Antiquarian Horology study, supports his activity in the town around the beginning of the 19th century. Longcase clocks are also recorded signed by Richard Cole of Ipswich, suggesting a broader practice beyond dial clocks and watches. We recently handled an almost identical clock with a wooden dial. However, this clock has a twin fusee movement with hour strike- a very unusual feature for a wall clock of this period and therefore more desirable for the collector. HW6654