English Tall Case Clock by James Houghton, Ormskirk
There is much to admire and appreciate about this stately English tall case clock. Brass rosette terminals, ball-and-spire finials, and a central eagle-topped finial appoint the swan’s neck bonnet with compressed arches. Subtle hand painted floral accents in the arch add interest and appeal to the bonnet front. The arched glass door is flanked by half and free-standing reeded columns with brass capitals. An unusual and oversized painted iron clock face features large Roman numerals on the chapter ring, a calendar and seconds dial, terrestrial maps, “Houghton Ormskirk,” and two miniature country landscapes. The spandrels have colorfully painted florals with fans at the corners. In the lunette is a nicely painted moon phase dial that alternates between moon faces and country landscapes. The 8-day movement is weight driven with bell strike and carries a one-year warranty.
The case consists largely of beautiful flame mahogany veneers. The shaped waist door, flanked by free-standing reeded columns, has an ebony escutcheon and applied ebony banding that highlights the veneers nicely. The double base, also with ebony banding, is supported on Ogee bracket feet.
94″H x 24″W x 12″D
Circa 1810