A William IV mahogany wall clock, the painted dial with Roman…
click the photo to enlarge
A William IV mahogany wall clock, the painted dial with Roman numerals in brass bezel, the brass inlaid pendulum box below, 50 x 37 cm

You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.

Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item

When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
  • Pendulum - The pendulum was discovered around 1602 by Galileo Galilei, and was adopted for time keeping by the Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher, Christiaan Huygens, who excelled in astronomy, physics, and horology.

    The pendulum comprises a metal rod usually of brass or steel with a metal disk, known as a bob, at the end. The movement of the pendulum is driven by weights or a spring, and as a pendulum swings in a regular arc, it was found accuracy could be controlled to within a few seconds a week.

    Timekeeping can be adjusted by changing the height of the bob on the rod, making the pendulum either swing slower or faster.

    The disadvantage of the pendulum was that changes in temperature also changed the length of the pendulum, interfering with the accuracy of the clock, and so in the 18th century two types of mercurial pendulums were invented which countered the movement in the steel rod.

    The pendulum was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the invention of the quartz clock, regulated by a quartz crystal, in 1927.
  • William Iv - William IV was King of the United Kingdom and King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837, and in English furniture design it represented the brief period between the end of the Regency period, and the beginning of the Victorian period.
  • Bezel - On a clock or watch, the bezel is the metal frame into which the watch or clock glass is fitted. In clocks, the bezel may include a hinge and a flange, in effect a door to the face of the clock. In jewellery the bezel is a band of metal with a projecting lip that holds the gemstone in its setting.
  • Mahogany - Mahogany is a dense, close grained red-coloured timber from the West Indies and Central America. It was first imported into Europe in the the early 18th century and its use continued through the 19th century. It was popular for furniture making because of its strength, the wide boards available, the distinctive grain on some boards, termed flame mahogany and the rich warm colour of the timber when it was polished.. The "flame" was produced where a limb grew out from the trunk of the tree, and this timber was usually sliced into veneers for feature panels on doors, backs and cornices.

    Some terms used to describe mahogany relate to the country from which it originally came, such as "Cuban" mahogany, "Honduras" mahogany etc. However unless the wood has been tested the names assigned are more a selling feature, rather than a true indication of the timber's origin.

This item has been included into following indexes:

Visually similar items

A Victorian cut brass inlaid mahogany cased drop dial wall clock signed Chadwick, Bristol, with a painted Roman numeral dial and an anchor escapement, the case with carved ornamentation and a glazed lenticel, 50 cm high

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A 19th century drop dial wall clock clock face replaced minute hand not working

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

Waterbury wall clock with Roman numerals. Has a key and pendulum.

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.

A huon pine framed wall clock, late 19th century, the huon pine case with ebonised surround. The dial with Roman numerals. Other Notes: Built by Victoria Railways, situated on Bungaree station which controlled the lines from Ballarat to Melbourne and Melbo

Sold by in for
You can display prices in $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.