M C Taylor Clocks

Description

A good and original example that is new to the market.

The 4 pillar weight driven movement with a 5 wheel train, tapered plates and Anchor Recoil escapement.

Having a 25 1/4" diameter three-plank dial with a concave moulded surround with gilt lining to the edges. The dial has small, outer Arabic 5's, divided minute track with unusually triangled hour points, large inner Roman hour numerals and matching and shaped brass hands the minute of which being counterpoised.

The slender trunk has ornate 'ears' below the dial and a inward-curved door top. The area above this carries the two-line maker's name of "Will(ia)m Stevens (of) CIRENCESTER" in the typical format. The door has raised chinoiserie decoration depicting a tree and birds over homes and 2 human figures in the oriental style. The door is flanked and bottomed with bordered ornate scrolling to the case front and the sides have floral decoration. The case bottom is of a large Cavetto design that is also decorated and bordered with the trunk by a large moulding to all 3 sides.

This is a fine example of an English Tavern clock of the period and ticks a lot of boxes. Purchased privately, it had belonged to the same family for generations. An almost identical example by the same maker is featured in the excellent book 'English Dial Clocks' by Ronald E. Rose. William Stevens was a clockmaker of Gloucester and Cirencester and was a member of the Clockmakers Company from 1775 until 1812.