Lewis Walduck
Cataloguer
Lot 54
A fine and rare late 19th century English quarter chiming carriage clock of magnificent proportions. Attributed to James McCabe, London. Retailed by Charles Taylor & Co., London & Bristol, numbered on the backplate 5560.
2 July 2025, 13:00 BST
London, New Bond Street£30,000 - £50,000
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A fine and rare late 19th century English quarter chiming carriage clock of magnificent proportions.
Attributed to James McCabe, London. Retailed by Charles Taylor & Co., London & Bristol, numbered on the backplate 5560.
The 30cms (12 inch) high case surmounted by a reeded carrying handle supported on distinctive sinuous scroll supports, over a large bevelled glass inspection panel with matching sides, the canted front corners cast with pronounced sparrow-beak profiles, all raised on a moulded plinth base, the solid, lift-out rear door with shuttered winding apertures for hand-setting, regulation and winding.
The matt gilt dial engraved allover with flowers and foliate scrollwork on a matted ground, the polished 4.25inch Roman dial with outer minute track and blued steel fleur-de-lyse hands, signed within a shield cartouche Chas Taylor & Co London & Bristol.
The numbered, triple chain fusee movement with fine English lever platform escapement with a heavy brass balance, chiming the quarters on a nest of eight polished bells and striking the hours on a blued steel gong fixed to the backplate, stamped FD, the full quarter repeat activated via a button to the left-hand side of the case. Sold together with the original double-ended winding key. Ticking, striking, chiming and repeating. 30cms (12ins) high. With handle down, 24cms (9.5ins).
The 30cms (12 inch) high case surmounted by a reeded carrying handle supported on distinctive sinuous scroll supports, over a large bevelled glass inspection panel with matching sides, the canted front corners cast with pronounced sparrow-beak profiles, all raised on a moulded plinth base, the solid, lift-out rear door with shuttered winding apertures for hand-setting, regulation and winding.
The matt gilt dial engraved allover with flowers and foliate scrollwork on a matted ground, the polished 4.25inch Roman dial with outer minute track and blued steel fleur-de-lyse hands, signed within a shield cartouche Chas Taylor & Co London & Bristol.
The numbered, triple chain fusee movement with fine English lever platform escapement with a heavy brass balance, chiming the quarters on a nest of eight polished bells and striking the hours on a blued steel gong fixed to the backplate, stamped FD, the full quarter repeat activated via a button to the left-hand side of the case. Sold together with the original double-ended winding key. Ticking, striking, chiming and repeating. 30cms (12ins) high. With handle down, 24cms (9.5ins).
Footnotes
This clock is housed in a case of distinctive form, with elaborate scrollwork and a profile closely matching those illustrated in Fig. 23-22 of Derek Roberts' Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks. Similar examples, including one retailed by T. E. Payne of Tunbridge Wells, strongly suggest a common origin, and all are widely attributed to the workshop of James McCabe. See Derek Roberts, Carriage and Other Travelling Clocks, p.298, 300, 342.
Charles Taylor & Co., London & Bristol
Charles Taylor began his apprenticeship as a silversmith on 10 March 1796 with the notable husband-and-wife silversmiths John and Mary Tanner (Grimwade p.369), paying the substantial premium of 70 guineas—a testament to the standing of his masters. He established his own business in 1805, and by 1812, he was made Free of the City of Bristol.
In the mid-1830s, Taylor entered into partnership with his son, Thomas Terrett Taylor. Together, they registered maker's marks in Exeter and London, continuing to produce high-quality silverwork. Charles Taylor passed away on 17 November 1861, aged 80, and Thomas died on 27 June 1880, aged 66. Both father and son were members of Bristol City Council, indicating their civic as well as commercial prominence.
After Charles's death, the firm operated under Thomas Terrett Taylor, George Carley, and John James Peters as Charles Taylor & Co. Carley retired from the partnership on 31 March 1867, followed by Thomas on 30 June 1870, after which the company became John J. Peters & Co.
Eventually, the business was acquired by William Langford & Sons, under Francis James Langford and George Langford, and subsequently renamed the Bristol Goldsmiths' Alliance.
This remarkable clock - surely one of the most magnificent ever made - weighs approximately 10.4kgs (in excess of 22lbs.)
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