An unusual George III mahogany painted tidal dial longcase clock
The dial signed Thomas Gilmour, Hutchisontown
The hood with swan-neck pediment, the case with cross-banded door above a plain base box on plinth, the arched painted dial with maritime moon phase showing a ship at sea and 'Hodam Castle', the 16.25 inch arched dial having a chapter ring with twin 1-12 Arabic numerals around an inverted 32 point compass and 92 point scale marked 'D' and 'M' (presumed Degrees and Minutes), a further inner dial in black gives a double 180 degree scale marked in a 15 degree scale and an inner 1-30 scale, set on the centre with a single concentric hand to give the time, and a double-ended hand which encompasses all dials to the outer 'D/M' edge, signed in the centre with a subsidiary seconds and day/date dials, the corner spandrels painted with portraits of Newton, Columbus, Captain Cook and Herschel, the eight day movement with four knopped pillars, striking on a bell.
57cm wide x 24cm deep x 233cm high
Wirswall Hall, Whitchurch, Shropshire. Believed to have been first acquired by Thomas Hogg (1838-1931) of Eaglesham, thence by descent to the vendor.
Footnote:The Clockmakers and Watchmakers of Scotland identifies Thomas Gilmour of Nielston, Renfrewshire, as the maker of a mahogany longcase clock with 24-hour painted dial in circa 1820. Hutchisontown (Hutchesontown), is a district of Glasgow about 10 miles away from Nielston. The Hodam castle in the moon phase wheel is likely Hoddom Castle near the river Annan in Lockerbie and this clock may possibly have been a special commission for the owner.
The clock was cleaned and overhauled in 2012 by Tim Woolley of Nantwich, Cheshire.
Sold for £2,000
Condition Report
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