Bonhams
Lot 262
A very rare early 19th century silver and silvered brass English striking spherical skeleton clockBarraud, Cornhill, LondonIn the form of a globe on a turned column set to the front with the letter S (for South), the three folding tripod legs each with a levelling screw to the top, the time read against a fixed gilt sunburst between twin horizontal revolving bands of Arabic five-minute numerals and twice I-XII Roman numerals, the horizon ring marked in degrees 0-180-0, the solid silver meridian ring with engraved signature, the twin gut fusee movement set within the lower half of the globe, the top plate intricately cast and skeletonised with visible rack strike work activating the hammer and bell to the underside, both spring barrels with pierced caps, the going train terminating in a horizontal deadbeat escapement to a 8.5 inch pendulum with lacquered rod and lenticular bob. 31cm high x 15cm diameter (12in high x 6in diameter) 31cms (12ins) high.Footnotes:Provenance: Sotheby's London, Important Clocks 3rd October 1991, lot 194.The first spherical skeleton clock is thought to have been devised and made by Henry Gratte of London in the late 18th century, see 'The Horological Journal', February 1951, page 94, a feature entitled 'Sphere Clock by Henry Gratte' which illustrates a similar clock with moonphase and perpetual calendar signed with the makers name and the legend 'Invenit & Fecit', denoting that he was the first to devise and make such a clock. The Gratte clock was originally in the private museum of the Earls of Buckingham at Stowe House. The contents of the museum were sold by auction in 1848, and the clock's current whereabouts is unknown. It would appear that Gratte supplied other makers with these clocks, including Horne & Ash (working 1808-1817), George Jamison (an example is illustrated and discussed in Derek Roberts, 'Skeleton Clocks', Woodbridge 1987 Figs 1/2 a to c.), and Paul Philip Barraud.Jamison and Barraud were well known to one another – along with William Howells they produced precision timekeepers based on the principles of Thomas Mudge until 1799. Another spherical clock by Barraud with additional world time chapter ring is illustrated in Cedric Jagger 'Paul Philip Barraud', Ramsgate, 1968 Fig XIX, a) and b). As far as we are aware, the current lot is the only extant clock with a solid silver signature arc.This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: ** VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com
