A fine and rare early 18th century gilt-metal mounted, ebony-veneered quarter-repeating and striking table clock of small size

Thomas Tompion, London, number 345

Thomas Tompion, London, number 345
The case:
the tied bud handle over a caddy top and finely moulded cornice, the side panels with pierced sound frets backed in green silk, over glazed rectangular panels, on a moulded base and block feet, the rear door with rectangular glazed panel, the front with silk-backed sound fret over a pair of gilt escutcheons, numbered on the front sill '345'.

The dial:
the gilt rectangular dial measuring 5.5inches by 6.25 inches (14cms x 16cms), signed top centre in a flowing script 'Tho: Tompion, Londini fecit' within an engraved foliate cartouche to the top corners with a sprig of foliage over the twin subsidiary dials for rise-and-fall regulation (marked in Arabic 5s inside the engraved track) and Strike/Not Strike, both with engraved centres and blued steel hands, the latter with twin brass nibs, the silvered Roman and Arabic chapter ring with cross half-quarter marks, outer minute band and inner quarter hour track with 'sword hilt' half-hour marks, the finely matted centre with D-ended chamfered mock pendulum aperture, and blued steel hands, with three latched dial feet, the lower corners set with double-screwed ornate cherubs head spandrels, and a pair of upper half-spandrels secured with single screws.

The movement:
of eight day duration and with substantial plates united by seven knopped and ringed pillars latched to the frontplate with shaped brass riveted latches, both fusees with gut line, the going train terminating in a pivoted verge escapement with long steel crutch to a short pendulum with brass bob and rod mounted on a facetted brass rise and fall arm pivotted on the backplate, the mock pendulum screwed to the verge arbor in typical fashion; the strike train with rack strike on a bell mounted on a steel stand with shaped foot; the quarter repeat train sounding the quarters on a smaller, single bell, activated from either side via Tompion's double engaging cocked chamfered steel levers on the backplate. Running, striking and repeating.

The backplate:
fully engraved within a single line border and punch numbered along the lower edge, signed in an oval cartouche flanked by a pair of cornucopia issuing fruit and flowers within a symmetrical pattern of foliate scrolls, a stylised Green Man mask engraved above the centre, all cocks similarly engraved. 33cms (13ins) high to the top of the raised handle. (30cms (11.75ins) to the pommel of the handle)